Final answer:
The ability for a user account that references a 'template' user to change portal preferences is dependent on system settings and user permissions. If allowed by the system, users can modify preferences; if not, they cannot.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whether a user account that references a 'template' user can change their portal preferences depends on how the system is set up by the administrators. In some systems, a template user might define a set of default settings that can be utilized by other users. These users generally have the ability to modify their own preferences unless the template settings are enforced as mandatory or if the user's permissions do not allow for changes to be made. For instance, in many Content Management Systems (CMS) and enterprise solutions, the idea of a template user is that you start with a predefined set of preferences and permissions, but as long as your user account has the necessary rights, you can usually change your portal preferences. However, this can be tightly controlled in other systems, meaning the answer would be false. It all comes down to the system's design and the permissions given to the user account.