This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A SysOps administrator runs the command to list running EC2 instances. What is the purpose of the '--query' parameter?
It filters the results on the server side.
Why wrong: Server-side filtering uses --filters.
It limits the API call to only running instances.
Why wrong: The API call retrieves all instances; query filters client-side.
It filters the output to show only specified fields.
JMESPath query selects specific fields.
It saves the output to a file.
Why wrong: Output redirection does that.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
It filters the output to show only specified fields.
Option C is correct because the '--query' parameter in the AWS CLI filters and formats the output using JMESPath expressions, allowing you to specify exactly which fields to display. Option A is wrong because '--query' operates on the client side after the API response is received, not on the server side. Option B is wrong because it does not limit the API call; that would require a filter like '--filters Name=instance-state-name,Values=running'. Option D is wrong because '--query' does not save output to a file; that would be done with output redirection or the '--output' parameter.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
It filters the results on the server side.
Why it's wrong here
Server-side filtering uses --filters.
It limits the API call to only running instances.
Why it's wrong here
The API call retrieves all instances; query filters client-side.
It filters the output to show only specified fields.
Why this is correct
JMESPath query selects specific fields.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
It saves the output to a file.
Why it's wrong here
Output redirection does that.
Common exam traps
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Output redirection does that.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which SOA-C02 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.
Security and Compliance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: It filters the output to show only specified fields. — Option C is correct because the '--query' parameter in the AWS CLI filters and formats the output using JMESPath expressions, allowing you to specify exactly which fields to display. Option A is wrong because '--query' operates on the client side after the API response is received, not on the server side. Option B is wrong because it does not limit the API call; that would require a filter like '--filters Name=instance-state-name,Values=running'. Option D is wrong because '--query' does not save output to a file; that would be done with output redirection or the '--output' parameter.
Identify which SOA-C02 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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This SOA-C02 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 SOA-C02 exam.
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