- A
Compute Engine with preemptible VMs
Preemptible VMs are cost-effective for fault-tolerant batch jobs that can handle interruptions.
- B
Compute Engine with standard VMs
Why wrong: Standard VMs are more expensive; Preemptible VMs are cheaper for batch jobs.
- C
Cloud Run
Why wrong: Cloud Run has a 60-minute timeout, insufficient for 12-hour jobs.
- D
App Engine Flexible Environment
Why wrong: App Engine Flexible is not designed for batch processing with large files.
Question 706 of 1,000
Cloud Digital Leader Fundamental Cloud Concepts Practice Question
This GCDL practice question tests your understanding of fundamental cloud concepts. 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 wants to run a batch job that processes large files (up to 100 TB each) using a custom Linux executable. The job runs once a month and takes about 12 hours. They want to minimise cost. Which compute option should they choose?
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
✓
Compute Engine with preemptible VMs
Compute Engine Preemptible VMs offer deep discounts (up to 60-90% off) and are suitable for fault-tolerant batch jobs. Preemptible VMs can be terminated at any time, but since the job can be restarted, it's cost-effective. Persistent disks are required for data. Cloud Run has a timeout limit of 60 minutes. GKE with Spot VMs is also an option but adds overhead. Standard Compute Engine is more expensive.
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.
- ✓
Compute Engine with preemptible VMs
Why this is correct
Preemptible VMs are cost-effective for fault-tolerant batch jobs that can handle interruptions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Compute Engine with standard VMs
Why it's wrong here
Standard VMs are more expensive; Preemptible VMs are cheaper for batch jobs.
- ✗
Cloud Run
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Run has a 60-minute timeout, insufficient for 12-hour jobs.
- ✗
App Engine Flexible Environment
Why it's wrong here
App Engine Flexible is not designed for batch processing with large files.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which GCDL 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 GCDL question test?
Fundamental Cloud Concepts — This question tests Fundamental Cloud Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Compute Engine with preemptible VMs — Compute Engine Preemptible VMs offer deep discounts (up to 60-90% off) and are suitable for fault-tolerant batch jobs. Preemptible VMs can be terminated at any time, but since the job can be restarted, it's cost-effective. Persistent disks are required for data. Cloud Run has a timeout limit of 60 minutes. GKE with Spot VMs is also an option but adds overhead. Standard Compute Engine is more expensive.
What should I do if I get this GCDL question wrong?
Identify which GCDL 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.
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: Jul 4, 2026
This GCDL 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 GCDL exam.
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