The answer is shardId-000000000001 because the hash value 150000000000000000000000000000000000000 falls within the second shard’s hash key range, which spans from 113427455640312821154458202477256070484 to 226854911280625642308916404954512140969. Kinesis uses the partition key’s MD5 hash to determine shard routing: each shard owns a contiguous range of hash values, and the record is written to the shard whose range contains the computed hash. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how Kinesis distributes data across shards based on partition key hashing, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must compare a given hash against shard boundaries. A common trap is assuming the first shard always receives the record or that hashes are evenly split; in reality, shard ranges are fixed at creation and can be uneven. Memory tip: think of shard ranges like numbered buckets—your hash is a ticket, and it goes into the bucket whose number range covers that ticket.
DEA-C01 Data Ingestion and Transformation Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data ingestion and transformation. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. A data engineer runs the AWS CLI command and observes the output. The stream has two shards. A producer sends a record with a partition key that hashes to 150000000000000000000000000000000000000. To which shard will the record be written?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
shardId-000000000001
Option B is correct because the hash key range for shardId-000000000000 is 0 to 113427455640312821154458202477256070484. The given hash 150000... is greater than the end of the first shard, so it falls into the second shard's range (113427... to 226854...). Option A is wrong because the hash is not in the first shard's range. Option C is wrong because the hash is within the second shard's range. Option D is wrong because the hash is not outside both ranges.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
shardId-000000000001
Why this is correct
The hash key falls within the range of the second shard.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The record will be rejected because it does not match any shard
Why it's wrong here
The hash is within the second shard's range; records are not rejected.
✗
shardId-000000000000
Why it's wrong here
The hash key is greater than the ending hash key of this shard.
✗
The record will be written to both shards
Why it's wrong here
Records are written to exactly one shard based on hash key.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Data Ingestion and Transformation — This question tests Data Ingestion and Transformation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: shardId-000000000001 — Option B is correct because the hash key range for shardId-000000000000 is 0 to 113427455640312821154458202477256070484. The given hash 150000... is greater than the end of the first shard, so it falls into the second shard's range (113427... to 226854...). Option A is wrong because the hash is not in the first shard's range. Option C is wrong because the hash is within the second shard's range. Option D is wrong because the hash is not outside both ranges.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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