Google ACE Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution Practice Question
You are managing a Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL instance. You need to import a SQL dump file stored in a Cloud Storage bucket. The file is 10GB. Which command should you use?
⚠ Common exam trap
ACE often tests the exact gcloud subcommand hierarchy — candidates confuse `gcloud sql import sql` with `gcloud sql instances import` or pick the wrong format flag (csv vs sql).
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
✓
gcloud sql import sql my-instance gs://bucket/file.sql --database=db
The correct command to import a SQL dump from Cloud Storage into a Cloud SQL instance is `gcloud sql import sql <instance> <gs://path> --database=<db>`. The `sql` subcommand specifies the file format, and the instance name and GCS URI are positional arguments. Option B matches this exact syntax.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use psql command from a Compute Engine instance to connect and import the file.
Why it's wrong here
Streaming a 10GB dump through psql from a Compute Engine instance routes the entire file over the network and depends on that VM's availability, rather than using Cloud SQL's native server-side import. It is tempting because psql is the standard client for small ad-hoc SQL, but it is not the managed import path.
- ✓
gcloud sql import sql my-instance gs://bucket/file.sql --database=db
Why this is correct
The gcloud sql import sql command streams the SQL dump from the Cloud Storage bucket directly into the specified database on the instance, handling the 10GB file without local download. It satisfies the stem's requirement to import a SQL dump from Cloud Storage into Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL.
- ✗
gcloud sql instances import my-instance gs://bucket/file.sql --database=db
Why it's wrong here
Wrong command; the correct is gcloud sql import sql.
- ✗
gcloud sql import csv my-instance gs://bucket/file.sql --database=db
Why it's wrong here
The csv subcommand expects comma-separated data, not a SQL dump containing DDL and INSERT statements, so parsing fails. It is tempting because gcloud sql import does support csv for bulk-loading tabular data into an existing table, which is the correct choice when the source file is genuinely CSV.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
GCP Database Services
Key term
Cloud storage
Cloud storage is a service that lets you save data on remote servers accessed over the internet instead of on your computer's hard drive.
Key term
Cloud SQL
Cloud SQL is a fully managed relational database service that lets you set up, maintain, and scale SQL databases (like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server) in the cloud without managing the underlying infrastructure.
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One of 775 original ACE practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Google Cloud exam blueprint
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.