- A
Partition the table by region to limit scans.
Why wrong: Spanner does not support user-defined partitioning.
- B
Use the STORING clause in the index to include frequently accessed columns.
Reduces additional reads.
- C
Interleave an 'OrderItems' table under 'Shipments' for join performance.
Interleaving improves read locality.
- D
Create a secondary index on (origin, status) for efficient filtering.
Index speeds up queries.
- E
Use a monotonically increasing integer primary key for high write throughput.
Why wrong: Causes hotspots.
Question 303 of 1,000
PCDOE Secondary index Practice Question
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of design and plan database solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: secondary index. 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 is designing a Cloud Spanner database for a global supply chain application. The schema includes a table 'Shipments' with columns: shipment_id (INT64), created_at (TIMESTAMP), origin (STRING), destination (STRING), status (STRING). The application frequently queries for shipments by origin and status. Which three design choices optimize query performance? (Choose THREE.)
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
✓
Use the STORING clause in the index to include frequently accessed columns.
Option B is correct because the STORING clause in a Cloud Spanner secondary index allows you to include additional columns (such as 'destination' or 'status') in the index storage, enabling index-only scans that avoid fetching rows from the base table. This reduces read latency and resource consumption for queries that frequently access those columns along with the indexed keys. Option C is correct because interleaving an 'OrderItems' table under 'Shipments' places child rows physically close to parent rows, improving join performance by reducing round trips and allowing efficient row scans. Option D is correct because a secondary index on (origin, status) directly supports the frequent queries filtering on those columns, enabling fast lookups without scanning the entire table. Options A and E are incorrect: Cloud Spanner does not support traditional partitioning by region, and monotonically increasing primary keys cause hotspotting at the leader, reducing write throughput.
Key principle: Secondary index
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Partition the table by region to limit scans.
Why it's wrong here
Spanner does not support user-defined partitioning.
- ✓
Use the STORING clause in the index to include frequently accessed columns.
Why this is correct
Reduces additional reads.
Related concept
Secondary index
- ✓
Interleave an 'OrderItems' table under 'Shipments' for join performance.
Why this is correct
Interleaving improves read locality.
Related concept
Secondary index
- ✓
Create a secondary index on (origin, status) for efficient filtering.
Why this is correct
Index speeds up queries.
Related concept
Secondary index
- ✗
Use a monotonically increasing integer primary key for high write throughput.
Why it's wrong here
Causes hotspots.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that Cloud Spanner supports traditional partitioning or that monotonically increasing keys are safe for distributed databases, leading candidates to select options that would actually degrade performance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Spanner's secondary indexes are global and strongly consistent, meaning they are updated synchronously with the base table. The STORING clause materializes the specified columns into the index's data blocks, which allows the query to be satisfied entirely from the index without a back-join to the base table — this is similar to a covering index in other databases but with Spanner's distributed architecture. In a global supply chain application, this can dramatically reduce cross-region reads when the index is co-located with the querying region.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Secondary index
- Interleaved table
- STORING clause
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
Secondary index
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDOE question test?
Design and Plan Database Solutions — This question tests Design and Plan Database Solutions — Secondary index.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the STORING clause in the index to include frequently accessed columns. — Option B is correct because the STORING clause in a Cloud Spanner secondary index allows you to include additional columns (such as 'destination' or 'status') in the index storage, enabling index-only scans that avoid fetching rows from the base table. This reduces read latency and resource consumption for queries that frequently access those columns along with the indexed keys. Option C is correct because interleaving an 'OrderItems' table under 'Shipments' places child rows physically close to parent rows, improving join performance by reducing round trips and allowing efficient row scans. Option D is correct because a secondary index on (origin, status) directly supports the frequent queries filtering on those columns, enabling fast lookups without scanning the entire table. Options A and E are incorrect: Cloud Spanner does not support traditional partitioning by region, and monotonically increasing primary keys cause hotspotting at the leader, reducing write throughput.
What should I do if I get this PCDOE question wrong?
Review secondary index, then practise related PCDOE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Secondary index
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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