- A
Perform a full extraction of all data from all sources every night and load directly into the data warehouse
Why wrong: Full extraction of the EHR database nightly is inefficient and time-consuming.
- B
Extract only new and changed EHR data using change tracking, extract the full claims CSV (since it's append-only), and extract API data filtered by the last extraction date
This minimizes data transfer and load time while capturing all changes.
- C
Use a staging area to land all raw data first, then transform and load
Why wrong: Staging is good but full extraction still occurs; incremental is better.
- D
Extract the EHR data using change tracking, extract the full claims CSV, and extract the API data using a full dump
Why wrong: The claims CSV is append-only, so incremental is possible; API full dump is unnecessary.
DA0-001 Mining and Acquiring Data Practice Question
This DA0-001 practice question tests your understanding of mining and acquiring data. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 healthcare organization is building a data warehouse to support population health analytics. The data sources include: (1) an electronic health record (EHR) system with a relational database containing patient demographics, diagnoses, and medications; (2) a claims system that generates CSV files daily; (3) patient-generated health data from mobile apps via a REST API returning JSON. The data engineer needs to design a data acquisition process that runs nightly. The EHR system has a change tracking mechanism that logs changes with timestamps. The claims CSV files are appended daily. The API supports filtering by date. The data warehouse uses a star schema with fact and dimension tables. The engineer must ensure data consistency and minimize load times. Which approach should the engineer take?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Extract only new and changed EHR data using change tracking, extract the full claims CSV (since it's append-only), and extract API data filtered by the last extraction date
Option B is correct because it uses incremental extraction for the EHR system (via change tracking) and the API (via date filtering), while performing a full extraction of the claims CSV since it is append-only and small enough to reload nightly. This minimizes load times by avoiding full re-extraction of large, slowly changing datasets, and ensures data consistency by capturing only new or modified records. The star schema in the data warehouse is then populated efficiently from these targeted extracts.
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.
- ✗
Perform a full extraction of all data from all sources every night and load directly into the data warehouse
Why it's wrong here
Full extraction of the EHR database nightly is inefficient and time-consuming.
- ✓
Extract only new and changed EHR data using change tracking, extract the full claims CSV (since it's append-only), and extract API data filtered by the last extraction date
Why this is correct
This minimizes data transfer and load time while capturing all changes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a staging area to land all raw data first, then transform and load
Why it's wrong here
Staging is good but full extraction still occurs; incremental is better.
- ✗
Extract the EHR data using change tracking, extract the full claims CSV, and extract the API data using a full dump
Why it's wrong here
The claims CSV is append-only, so incremental is possible; API full dump is unnecessary.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume a staging area (Option C) is always required for data consistency, but the question specifically asks for the acquisition approach to minimize load times, and incremental extraction (Option B) directly achieves that without mandating a staging area.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Change tracking in SQL Server, for example, uses a system-versioned temporal table or change data capture (CDC) to log DML operations with timestamps, allowing extraction of only rows modified since the last run. For REST APIs, filtering by a timestamp parameter (e.g., `?updated_since=2025-03-20T00:00:00Z`) reduces payload size and avoids reprocessing historical data. In a star schema, incremental loads must handle slowly changing dimensions (SCD) carefully, often using surrogate keys and type 2 history tracking to maintain consistency.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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 DA0-001 question test?
Mining and Acquiring Data — This question tests Mining and Acquiring Data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Extract only new and changed EHR data using change tracking, extract the full claims CSV (since it's append-only), and extract API data filtered by the last extraction date — Option B is correct because it uses incremental extraction for the EHR system (via change tracking) and the API (via date filtering), while performing a full extraction of the claims CSV since it is append-only and small enough to reload nightly. This minimizes load times by avoiding full re-extraction of large, slowly changing datasets, and ensures data consistency by capturing only new or modified records. The star schema in the data warehouse is then populated efficiently from these targeted extracts.
What should I do if I get this DA0-001 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This DA0-001 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 DA0-001 exam.
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