This CV0-004 practice question tests your understanding of operations and support. 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.
A company uses a cloud load balancer to distribute traffic to web servers. The load balancer health checks are failing for all instances. The instances are running and can be accessed directly via their private IPs from within the VPC. 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.
The load balancer's cross-zone load balancing is disabled.
Why wrong: Cross-zone load balancing affects traffic distribution, not health checks.
B
The load balancer's listeners are configured on the wrong ports.
Why wrong: Instances are accessible directly, so the port is likely correct.
C
The security group of the instances is not allowing traffic from the load balancer.
The load balancer sends health checks from a specific source; if the security group doesn't allow it, health checks fail.
D
The instances are not registered with the target group.
Why wrong: Health checks target registered instances; if they weren't registered, the load balancer would still fail but the error would indicate no targets.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The security group of the instances is not allowing traffic from the load balancer.
Option C is correct because the security group must allow health check traffic from the load balancer. Options A, B, and D are incorrect or less likely.
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 load balancer's cross-zone load balancing is disabled.
Why it's wrong here
Cross-zone load balancing affects traffic distribution, not health checks.
✗
The load balancer's listeners are configured on the wrong ports.
Why it's wrong here
Instances are accessible directly, so the port is likely correct.
✓
The security group of the instances is not allowing traffic from the load balancer.
Why this is correct
The load balancer sends health checks from a specific source; if the security group doesn't allow it, health checks fail.
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 instances are not registered with the target group.
Why it's wrong here
Health checks target registered instances; if they weren't registered, the load balancer would still fail but the error would indicate no targets.
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 CV0-004 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 CV0-004 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.
Operations and Support — This question tests Operations and Support — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The security group of the instances is not allowing traffic from the load balancer. — Option C is correct because the security group must allow health check traffic from the load balancer. Options A, B, and D are incorrect or less likely.
What should I do if I get this CV0-004 question wrong?
Identify which CV0-004 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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