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Question 676 of 1,000

Manage Database Solutions →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

PCDOE Manage Database Solutions Practice Question

This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of manage database solutions. 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 Cloud Spanner database has a table with a primary key and a secondary index. The application frequently queries using a filter on the secondary index column and orders by the primary key. The queries are slow. What should the database administrator do to improve query performance?

Clue words in this question

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

Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.

A
Increase the number of nodes to improve query throughput
Why wrong: Scaling nodes improves throughput but does not optimise a specific slow query.
B
Create an interleaved table that mirrors the data
Why wrong: Interleaved tables are for parent-child relationships, not for query optimisation.
C
Create a covering index using CREATE INDEX with the STORING clause to include the required columns
A covering index includes all columns needed for the query, allowing Spanner to avoid accessing the base table, which can improve performance.
D
Use ALTER TABLE to add a new index on the filter column
Why wrong: ALTER TABLE cannot add an index; you must use CREATE INDEX.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Create a covering index using CREATE INDEX with the STORING clause to include the required columns

Cloud Spanner can use a secondary index to filter on a column, but when ordering by the primary key, Spanner often must fetch rows from the base table and then sort them, which is slow. Creating a covering index with the STORING clause includes all columns needed by the query (the filter column and the primary key, as well as any other selected columns). This allows Spanner to satisfy the query entirely from the index, avoiding both the table lookup and the sort, because the index already stores the primary key in order. Option C is the correct syntax: `CREATE INDEX ... ON table (filter_column) STORING (other_columns)`.

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 number of nodes to improve query throughput
Why it's wrong here
Scaling nodes improves throughput but does not optimise a specific slow query.
✗
Create an interleaved table that mirrors the data
Why it's wrong here
Interleaved tables are for parent-child relationships, not for query optimisation.
✓
Create a covering index using CREATE INDEX with the STORING clause to include the required columns
Why this is correct
A covering index includes all columns needed for the query, allowing Spanner to avoid accessing the base table, which can improve performance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use ALTER TABLE to add a new index on the filter column
Why it's wrong here
ALTER TABLE cannot add an index; you must use CREATE INDEX.

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 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.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which PCDOE 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 PCDOE question test?

Manage Database Solutions — This question tests Manage Database Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Create a covering index using CREATE INDEX with the STORING clause to include the required columns — Cloud Spanner can use a secondary index to filter on a column, but when ordering by the primary key, Spanner often must fetch rows from the base table and then sort them, which is slow. Creating a covering index with the STORING clause includes all columns needed by the query (the filter column and the primary key, as well as any other selected columns). This allows Spanner to satisfy the query entirely from the index, avoiding both the table lookup and the sort, because the index already stores the primary key in order. Option C is the correct syntax: `CREATE INDEX ... ON table (filter_column) STORING (other_columns)`.

What should I do if I get this PCDOE question wrong?

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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