This CKA practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting. 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.
You are troubleshooting a pod that is in 'Pending' state. 'kubectl describe pod' shows '0/1 nodes are available: 1 Insufficient memory, 1 node(s) had taint {node-role.kubernetes.io/control-plane: }, that the pod didn't tolerate'. Which TWO actions can resolve the issue?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Reduce the memory request in the container spec to fit available memory
Adding a toleration (B) and reducing memory request (C) address the two issues: taint and insufficient memory. Adding a node selector (A) would not help if taint is not tolerated. Increasing memory request (D) worsens the problem. Adding resource limits (E) does not resolve scheduling constraints.
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.
✓
Reduce the memory request in the container spec to fit available memory
Why this is correct
Reducing memory request may allow the pod to fit on a node.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Add a node selector to the pod spec to target a specific node
Why it's wrong here
Node selector does not bypass taints; it only selects nodes with matching labels.
✗
Increase the memory request to prioritize scheduling
Why it's wrong here
Increasing request makes it harder to fit on nodes.
✗
Add resource limits without changing requests
Why it's wrong here
Limits alone do not affect scheduling; requests matter.
✓
Add a toleration for the control-plane taint to the pod spec
Why this is correct
Toleration allows the pod to be scheduled on the tainted control-plane node.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CKA question in full detail.
Identify which CKA 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.
Troubleshooting — This question tests Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Reduce the memory request in the container spec to fit available memory — Adding a toleration (B) and reducing memory request (C) address the two issues: taint and insufficient memory. Adding a node selector (A) would not help if taint is not tolerated. Increasing memory request (D) worsens the problem. Adding resource limits (E) does not resolve scheduling constraints.
What should I do if I get this CKA question wrong?
Identify which CKA 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.
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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