DEA-C01 Data Ingestion and Transformation Practice Question
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. A data engineer runs the above CLI command to find files smaller than 1000 bytes in a bucket. The command returns an empty array, but the engineer knows there are small files. What is the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
The DEA-C01 exam often tests the subtle distinction between string and numeric comparisons in JMESPath queries, where candidates assume quoted values are automatically coerced to numbers, but in reality, quotes force string comparison.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The Size is compared as a string, not an integer; remove quotes around '1000'.
In the AWS CLI `list-objects-v2` command with `--query`, the `Size` field is a numeric value, but the query string `Size < '1000'` compares it as a string. This causes a lexicographic comparison, so files with sizes like '900' would be correctly matched, but any size with more digits (e.g., '1000' itself or '999') may fail due to string ordering. Removing the quotes around `1000` treats it as an integer, enabling proper numeric comparison.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The prefix is incorrect; it should be 'logs/2023/01/01/'.
Why it's wrong here
The prefix is correct.
- ✗
The bucket policy does not allow listing objects.
Why it's wrong here
If access were denied, the command would fail with an error.
- ✗
The query syntax is invalid; use a filter instead.
Why it's wrong here
The query is valid.
- ✓
The Size is compared as a string, not an integer; remove quotes around '1000'.
Why this is correct
JMESPath comparison requires numeric types.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DEA-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DEA-C01 exam.