- A
Drop and recreate all indexes to ensure they are up to date.
Why wrong: Recreating indexes may not change optimizer behavior.
- B
Enable the Neptune explain plan feature and review the output.
Explain plan shows query execution steps and index usage.
- C
Add more reader instances to distribute the query load.
Why wrong: This addresses load, not query optimization.
- D
Check the CloudWatch metrics for CPU utilization and query latency.
Why wrong: Metrics indicate symptoms, not root cause of index usage.
Question 1,520 of 1,730
Using Neptune Explain Plan to Identify Index Usage Issues
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: neptune Explain Plan. 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 is using Amazon Neptune to run graph queries. The cluster has one writer and two reader instances. After a major version upgrade, the query performance degrades for complex traversal queries. The database specialist suspects that the query optimizer is not using indexes effectively. Which action should the specialist take to identify the issue?
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
✓
Enable the Neptune explain plan feature and review the output.
Option B is correct because enabling the Neptune explain plan feature provides detailed information about how queries are executed, including index usage. This helps identify if the query optimizer is failing to use indexes effectively after the upgrade. Option A is incorrect because dropping and recreating indexes is unnecessary and disruptive; indexes are automatically maintained. Option C is incorrect because adding reader instances distributes read load but does not fix query optimization issues. Option D is incorrect because CloudWatch metrics show system-level performance, not query execution details.
Key principle: Neptune Explain Plan
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Drop and recreate all indexes to ensure they are up to date.
Why it's wrong here
Recreating indexes may not change optimizer behavior.
- ✓
Enable the Neptune explain plan feature and review the output.
Why this is correct
Explain plan shows query execution steps and index usage.
Related concept
Neptune Explain Plan
- ✗
Add more reader instances to distribute the query load.
Why it's wrong here
This addresses load, not query optimization.
- ✗
Check the CloudWatch metrics for CPU utilization and query latency.
Why it's wrong here
Metrics indicate symptoms, not root cause of index usage.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that adding readers or checking metrics might seem helpful for performance, but the question specifically asks to identify index usage—only the explain plan provides that insight.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Neptune Explain Plan
- Query Optimizer
TExam Day Tips
- 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
Neptune Explain Plan
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. Neptune Explain Plan 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.
Review neptune Explain Plan, then practise related DBS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Management and Operations — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Neptune Explain Plan.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable the Neptune explain plan feature and review the output. — Option B is correct because enabling the Neptune explain plan feature provides detailed information about how queries are executed, including index usage. This helps identify if the query optimizer is failing to use indexes effectively after the upgrade. Option A is incorrect because dropping and recreating indexes is unnecessary and disruptive; indexes are automatically maintained. Option C is incorrect because adding reader instances distributes read load but does not fix query optimization issues. Option D is incorrect because CloudWatch metrics show system-level performance, not query execution details.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review neptune Explain Plan, then practise related DBS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Neptune Explain Plan
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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