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Deploying applications →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

PCD Deploying applications Practice Question

This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploying applications. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.
```yaml
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: frontend
spec:
  replicas: 3
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: frontend
  template:
    metadata:
      labels:
        app: frontend
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: frontend
        image: gcr.io/my-project/frontend:v2
        ports:
        - containerPort: 8080
        env:
        - name: BACKEND_URL
          value: "http://backend-service:8080"
      terminationGracePeriodSeconds: 30
```

After updating the image to v2, users report that the frontend application returns errors because it cannot reach the backend service. The backend service is running on GKE with the name 'backend-service' in the same namespace. What is the most likely cause?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "most likely"

    Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.
```yaml
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: frontend
spec:
  replicas: 3
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: frontend
  template:
    metadata:
      labels:
        app: frontend
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: frontend
        image: gcr.io/my-project/frontend:v2
        ports:
        - containerPort: 8080
        env:
        - name: BACKEND_URL
          value: "http://backend-service:8080"
      terminationGracePeriodSeconds: 30
```

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

✓

The application expects the backend URL from an environment variable named BACKEND_SERVICE_URL, but the deployment sets BACKEND_URL.

The most likely cause is that the frontend application expects the backend URL from an environment variable named `BACKEND_SERVICE_URL`, but the deployment sets `BACKEND_URL`. This mismatch means the frontend cannot resolve the backend endpoint, leading to connection errors. In Kubernetes, environment variables are commonly used to pass service discovery information, and a naming mismatch directly breaks the application's ability to reach the backend.

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.

  • ✗

    The selector labels do not match the pods.

    Why it's wrong here

    The exhibit shows the selector matches the pod labels, so this is not the issue.

  • ✓

    The application expects the backend URL from an environment variable named BACKEND_SERVICE_URL, but the deployment sets BACKEND_URL.

    Why this is correct

    Variable name mismatch is a common cause of application misconfiguration.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • ✗

    The backend service is not listening on port 8080.

    Why it's wrong here

    The port expected by the frontend matches the service port, so this is unlikely.

  • ✗

    The termination grace period is too short causing connection drops.

    Why it's wrong here

    Termination grace period affects shutdown, not connectivity issues.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Google Cloud Professional Cloud Developer exam often tests the distinction between environment variable naming mismatches and actual network connectivity issues, leading candidates to incorrectly focus on Kubernetes Service configuration (like selectors or ports) rather than application-level configuration.

Trap categories for this question

  • Command / output trap

    The exhibit shows the selector matches the pod labels, so this is not the issue.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

In Kubernetes, environment variables are injected into containers at pod creation time based on the container's specification. If the frontend application code reads `BACKEND_SERVICE_URL` but the deployment manifest defines `BACKEND_URL`, the variable will be empty or undefined, causing the application to use a default or fail. This is a common misconfiguration because environment variable names must exactly match what the application expects, and there is no automatic mapping or fallback. Real-world scenarios often involve multiple microservices where each service's configuration must be aligned with the consuming application's expectations.

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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.

Visual reference

Client Recursive Resolver Root DNS (13 root servers) TLD DNS (.com, .org, …) Authoritative example.com query IP addr answer

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 PCD question test?

Deploying applications — This question tests Deploying applications — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The application expects the backend URL from an environment variable named BACKEND_SERVICE_URL, but the deployment sets BACKEND_URL. — The most likely cause is that the frontend application expects the backend URL from an environment variable named `BACKEND_SERVICE_URL`, but the deployment sets `BACKEND_URL`. This mismatch means the frontend cannot resolve the backend endpoint, leading to connection errors. In Kubernetes, environment variables are commonly used to pass service discovery information, and a naming mismatch directly breaks the application's ability to reach the backend.

What should I do if I get this PCD 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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026

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This PCD 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 PCD exam.