The answer is a missing iam:PassRole permission in the Lambda execution policy. When a Lambda function attempts to start an AWS Glue job, it must have permission to pass the IAM role that Glue assumes to run the job, which is granted through the iam:PassRole action. Even if the policy includes glue:StartJobRun on the specific job resource, without iam:PassRole for the Glue service role, the Lambda call will fail with an access denied error. On the AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty MLS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cross-service role delegation, a common trap where candidates focus only on the direct service action (like StartJobRun) and overlook the prerequisite permission to pass roles. Remember the mnemonic: “To start a job, you must first pass the role.”
MLS-C01 Data Engineering Practice Question
This MLS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data engineering. 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 engineer uses the IAM policy above for an AWS Lambda function that processes data in S3 and triggers an AWS Glue job. The Lambda function is unable to start the Glue job. 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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The policy does not include iam:PassRole permission.
Option B is correct. The policy lacks 'glue:StartJobRun' action for the resource? Actually, the policy includes 'glue:StartJobRun' but the resource is specific to the job. However, the Lambda function's execution role may not have permission to pass the IAM role to Glue (iam:PassRole). Option B is correct: missing 'iam:PassRole' permission. Option A is wrong because the policy has GetObject on the bucket. Option C is wrong because Glue job name is correct. Option D is wrong because S3 PutObject is allowed.
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 Glue job name in the resource ARN is misspelled.
Why it's wrong here
The exhibit does not indicate misspelling.
✗
The policy does not allow s3:PutObject on the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
The policy includes s3:PutObject.
✓
The policy does not include iam:PassRole permission.
Why this is correct
To start a Glue job, Lambda must pass an execution role; iam:PassRole is required.
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 policy does not include s3:GetObject on the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
The policy includes s3:GetObject on the bucket.
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 MLS-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 Engineering — This question tests Data Engineering — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The policy does not include iam:PassRole permission. — Option B is correct. The policy lacks 'glue:StartJobRun' action for the resource? Actually, the policy includes 'glue:StartJobRun' but the resource is specific to the job. However, the Lambda function's execution role may not have permission to pass the IAM role to Glue (iam:PassRole). Option B is correct: missing 'iam:PassRole' permission. Option A is wrong because the policy has GetObject on the bucket. Option C is wrong because Glue job name is correct. Option D is wrong because S3 PutObject is allowed.
What should I do if I get this MLS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which MLS-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.
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Question Discussion
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