- A
A PVC can be bound to a PV that has been released and is pending reclamation
Why wrong: A released PV must be reclaimed (e.g., deleted or recycled) before it can be used again.
- B
A PV can be bound to multiple PVCs simultaneously if it has ReadWriteMany access mode
Why wrong: A PV can only be bound to one PVC at a time, regardless of access mode.
- C
A PVC will remain in Pending state if no PV matches its storage request and no StorageClass is defined
Without a matching PV or dynamic provisioning, the PVC cannot be bound.
- D
A PV can only be bound to a PVC that requests exactly the same amount of storage
Why wrong: A PVC can request less storage than the PV provides; the PV must be at least as large as the claim.
- E
A PVC can be bound to a PV with a different access mode if the PV supports multiple modes
Why wrong: Access modes must match; a PV with ReadWriteOnce cannot satisfy a PVC requesting ReadWriteMany.
CKA Storage Practice Question
This CKA practice question tests your understanding of storage. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Which TWO statements about PersistentVolume (PV) and PersistentVolumeClaim (PVC) binding are correct?
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
A PVC will remain in Pending state if no PV matches its storage request and no StorageClass is defined
Option C is correct because a PersistentVolumeClaim (PVC) will remain in the Pending state if no PersistentVolume (PV) matches its storage request and no StorageClass is defined to dynamically provision a volume. Without a matching PV or a StorageClass, the Kubernetes scheduler cannot bind or create a volume for the claim, leaving it pending indefinitely until a suitable PV becomes available or a StorageClass is added.
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.
- ✗
A PVC can be bound to a PV that has been released and is pending reclamation
Why it's wrong here
A released PV must be reclaimed (e.g., deleted or recycled) before it can be used again.
- ✗
A PV can be bound to multiple PVCs simultaneously if it has ReadWriteMany access mode
Why it's wrong here
A PV can only be bound to one PVC at a time, regardless of access mode.
- ✓
A PVC will remain in Pending state if no PV matches its storage request and no StorageClass is defined
Why this is correct
Without a matching PV or dynamic provisioning, the PVC cannot be bound.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A PV can only be bound to a PVC that requests exactly the same amount of storage
Why it's wrong here
A PVC can request less storage than the PV provides; the PV must be at least as large as the claim.
- ✗
A PVC can be bound to a PV with a different access mode if the PV supports multiple modes
Why it's wrong here
Access modes must match; a PV with ReadWriteOnce cannot satisfy a PVC requesting ReadWriteMany.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the misconception that a PVC can bind to a PV with a different access mode if the PV supports multiple modes, but in reality, the access mode must match exactly between the PVC's request and one of the PV's supported modes for the binding to succeed.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the PV-to-PVC binding is a one-to-one mapping enforced by the Kubernetes volume controller, which matches claims to volumes based on storage size, access modes, and optional selectors. The PVC's status transitions from Pending to Bound only when a PV with sufficient capacity and matching access modes is found; if no StorageClass is defined, dynamic provisioning is disabled, and the system relies solely on pre-existing PVs. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for static provisioning workflows where administrators pre-create PVs, and a misconfigured PVC (e.g., requesting a size larger than any PV) will remain Pending, causing application pods to fail to schedule.
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.
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
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 practitioner preparing for the CKA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CKA question test?
Storage — This question tests Storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A PVC will remain in Pending state if no PV matches its storage request and no StorageClass is defined — Option C is correct because a PersistentVolumeClaim (PVC) will remain in the Pending state if no PersistentVolume (PV) matches its storage request and no StorageClass is defined to dynamically provision a volume. Without a matching PV or a StorageClass, the Kubernetes scheduler cannot bind or create a volume for the claim, leaving it pending indefinitely until a suitable PV becomes available or a StorageClass is added.
What should I do if I get this CKA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This CKA practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF 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 CKA exam.
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