The correct actions are to set up an S3 event notification to invoke an AWS Lambda function that triggers the Glue job, and to use AWS Glue ETL for the serverless CSV to Parquet conversion. This works because S3 event notifications can detect file uploads at irregular intervals and pass the bucket and object key to a Lambda function, which then programmatically starts the Glue ETL job. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of building event-driven, serverless data pipelines without managing infrastructure. A common trap is selecting Amazon EMR or AWS Data Pipeline, which are not fully serverless or require cluster provisioning. Remember that Glue is the serverless ETL engine, and Lambda bridges the gap between S3 events and job execution. A helpful memory tip is “S3 triggers Lambda, Lambda launches Glue”—think of it as a three-step serverless handshake for transforming data formats on demand.
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.
A data engineering team is building a pipeline to transform CSV files uploaded to Amazon S3 into Parquet format using AWS Glue. The transformation must be serverless and handle files that arrive at irregular intervals. Which TWO actions should the team take? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use an AWS Glue ETL job to convert CSV to Parquet.
Option A: AWS Glue is serverless and can transform data. Option C: S3 event notifications can trigger a Lambda function to start the Glue job. Option B (Amazon EMR) is server-based and requires cluster management. Option D (AWS Data Pipeline) is not serverless. Option E (Amazon Redshift Spectrum) queries data in place but does not transform file formats.
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.
✗
Configure an Amazon EMR cluster with Apache Spark for on-demand transformation.
Why it's wrong here
EMR requires cluster management and is not fully serverless.
✓
Use an AWS Glue ETL job to convert CSV to Parquet.
Why this is correct
Glue ETL jobs are serverless and can transform data formats.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use AWS Data Pipeline to schedule a periodic transformation.
Why it's wrong here
Data Pipeline is not serverless and requires provisioning resources.
✗
Use Amazon Redshift Spectrum to convert files during query execution.
Why it's wrong here
Redshift Spectrum queries data in place but does not convert file formats.
✓
Set up an S3 event notification to invoke an AWS Lambda function that triggers the Glue job.
Why this is correct
Lambda can react to S3 events and start the Glue job automatically.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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: Use an AWS Glue ETL job to convert CSV to Parquet. — Option A: AWS Glue is serverless and can transform data. Option C: S3 event notifications can trigger a Lambda function to start the Glue job. Option B (Amazon EMR) is server-based and requires cluster management. Option D (AWS Data Pipeline) is not serverless. Option E (Amazon Redshift Spectrum) queries data in place but does not transform file formats.
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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