- A
Increase the initial delay for the load balancer health check to 5 minutes.
Why wrong: Increasing the delay would make instances take longer to serve traffic.
- B
Configure a startup script in the instance template that installs dependencies and starts the application.
Why wrong: Startup scripts run at boot and increase startup time.
- C
Set the managed instance group's autohealing to replace unhealthy instances based on the load balancer health check.
Why wrong: Autohealing replaces unhealthy instances but does not affect startup time.
- D
Use a container-optimized OS and deploy the application as a Docker container via the startup script.
Container-optimized OS with a Docker container can start quickly if the image is cached.
- E
Create a custom machine image that includes the application and all dependencies.
A custom image has the application pre-installed, reducing boot time.
Google ACE Practice Question: Deploying a stateless web application on Compute…
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of ace exam topics. 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 company is deploying a stateless web application on Compute Engine. The application is served by a managed instance group with autoscaling behind an HTTP(S) load balancer. To minimize instance startup time and ensure that the application is ready to serve traffic as soon as an instance is created, which two steps should the company take? (Choose two.)
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
Use a container-optimized OS and deploy the application as a Docker container via the startup script.
Option D (container-optimized OS) enables the application to run as a Docker container, which starts quickly if the image is cached, minimizing instance startup time. Option E (custom machine image) includes the application and all dependencies, eliminating the need to install them at boot. Option A (increasing health check delay) delays traffic serving, not startup time. Option B (startup script) adds installation time. Option C (autohealing) addresses health, not startup time.
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.
- ✗
Increase the initial delay for the load balancer health check to 5 minutes.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing the delay would make instances take longer to serve traffic.
- ✗
Configure a startup script in the instance template that installs dependencies and starts the application.
Why it's wrong here
Startup scripts run at boot and increase startup time.
- ✗
Set the managed instance group's autohealing to replace unhealthy instances based on the load balancer health check.
Why it's wrong here
Autohealing replaces unhealthy instances but does not affect startup time.
- ✓
Use a container-optimized OS and deploy the application as a Docker container via the startup script.
Why this is correct
Container-optimized OS with a Docker container can start quickly if the image is cached.
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.
- ✓
Create a custom machine image that includes the application and all dependencies.
Why this is correct
A custom image has the application pre-installed, reducing boot time.
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.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which ACE 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a container-optimized OS and deploy the application as a Docker container via the startup script. — Option D (container-optimized OS) enables the application to run as a Docker container, which starts quickly if the image is cached, minimizing instance startup time. Option E (custom machine image) includes the application and all dependencies, eliminating the need to install them at boot. Option A (increasing health check delay) delays traffic serving, not startup time. Option B (startup script) adds installation time. Option C (autohealing) addresses health, not startup time.
What should I do if I get this ACE question wrong?
Identify which ACE 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: "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.
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 23, 2026
This ACE practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud 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 ACE exam.
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