ACE Practice Question: An application architect is comparing Cloud SQL…
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of an application architect is comparing cloud sql…. 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.
An application architect is comparing Cloud SQL (PostgreSQL) and Cloud Spanner for a new global e-commerce platform. The platform must serve customers on three continents with <50ms latency for reads and strong consistency for inventory updates. Which service best fits?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Distractor review
Cloud SQL with one primary instance and cross-region read replicas
Cross-region read replicas provide low-latency reads but with eventual consistency lag. Write operations still go to the single primary, adding latency for distant users.
Distractor review
Cloud Firestore in multi-region mode
Firestore multi-region provides strong consistency for documents but isn't a relational database — it doesn't support the complex transactional inventory management patterns of an e-commerce platform.
Distractor review
Cloud SQL with Cloud Memorystore caching layer for reads
A caching layer reduces read latency but doesn't solve write consistency across regions — stale cache data can cause inventory overselling.
Best answer
Cloud Spanner multi-region configuration
Cloud Spanner multi-region provides strong consistency for writes with globally distributed read replicas for low-latency reads — exactly matching the three-continent, strong-consistency requirement.
Common exam trap
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.
Technical deep dive
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.
Related practice questions
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Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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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: Cloud Spanner multi-region configuration — Cloud Spanner multi-region configurations provide globally distributed, strongly consistent ACID transactions with multi-region read replicas for low-latency reads. Cloud SQL, even with read replicas, requires cross-region replication lag and lacks horizontal write scalability for global traffic.
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.
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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.