- A
The writer instance is experiencing high write activity
Why wrong: Would affect all readers equally.
- B
There is a network connectivity issue between the writer and that reader
Why wrong: A network issue would cause complete disconnection, not just higher lag.
- C
The reader instance is being used for heavy analytical queries
Heavy read workload on a reader can cause replication lag.
- D
The reader instance has a different DB parameter group
Why wrong: Parameter changes typically require reboot; otherwise they don't cause lag.
DBS-C01 Monitoring and Troubleshooting Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and troubleshooting. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 company runs an Amazon Aurora MySQL DB cluster with one writer and two readers. They notice that one reader instance is consistently showing higher than expected lag. The other reader is fine. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 reader instance is being used for heavy analytical queries
Option C is correct because an imbalanced workload on that reader can cause it to lag. Option A is wrong because writer load affects all replicas. Option B is wrong because network issues would affect both readers. Option D is wrong because parameter group change would affect both readers if applied to cluster.
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.
- ✗
The writer instance is experiencing high write activity
Why it's wrong here
Would affect all readers equally.
- ✗
There is a network connectivity issue between the writer and that reader
Why it's wrong here
A network issue would cause complete disconnection, not just higher lag.
- ✓
The reader instance is being used for heavy analytical queries
Why this is correct
Heavy read workload on a reader can cause replication lag.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The reader instance has a different DB parameter group
Why it's wrong here
Parameter changes typically require reboot; otherwise they don't cause lag.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DBS-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.
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Monitoring and Troubleshooting — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Monitoring and Troubleshooting — This question tests Monitoring and Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The reader instance is being used for heavy analytical queries — Option C is correct because an imbalanced workload on that reader can cause it to lag. Option A is wrong because writer load affects all replicas. Option B is wrong because network issues would affect both readers. Option D is wrong because parameter group change would affect both readers if applied to cluster.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DBS-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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DBS-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 DBS-C01 exam.
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