- A
Configure a dead letter topic
Allows failed messages to be stored without blocking subsequent messages.
- B
Use a push subscription with a HTTPS endpoint
Why wrong: Push subscriptions can deliver messages, but ordering is achieved via configuration.
- C
Enable ordering keys on the topic
Required for ordered delivery per key.
- D
Enable message ordering on the subscription
Ensures messages are delivered in order per key.
- E
Set the subscription's ackDeadline to 600 seconds
Why wrong: Long ack deadline may cause delays but not necessary for ordering.
Question 273 of 1,000
hardMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
PDE Practice Question: A company uses Cloud Pub/Sub with pull…
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of a company uses cloud pub/sub with pull…. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 uses Cloud Pub/Sub with pull subscriptions to process orders. The application requires at-least-once delivery and the ability to process orders in order per customer_id. Which THREE features should they configure? (Choose three.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
✓
Configure a dead letter topic
A dead letter topic is correct because it allows undeliverable messages to be moved to a separate topic after all delivery attempts are exhausted, preventing message loss while still enabling at-least-once delivery semantics. This ensures that problematic messages do not block the processing of subsequent messages in the same ordering key group, which is critical when message ordering is enabled.
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.
- ✓
Configure a dead letter topic
Why this is correct
Allows failed messages to be stored without blocking subsequent messages.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a push subscription with a HTTPS endpoint
Why it's wrong here
Push subscriptions can deliver messages, but ordering is achieved via configuration.
- ✓
Enable ordering keys on the topic
Why this is correct
Required for ordered delivery per key.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Enable message ordering on the subscription
Why this is correct
Ensures messages are delivered in order per key.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set the subscription's ackDeadline to 600 seconds
Why it's wrong here
Long ack deadline may cause delays but not necessary for ordering.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common misconception is that push subscriptions can support message ordering, but in reality, only pull subscriptions with ordering enabled can guarantee per-key order, and push subscriptions always deliver messages unordered.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Message ordering in Cloud Pub/Sub is achieved by setting an ordering key on the publisher side and enabling message ordering on the subscription. The service then delivers messages with the same ordering key to the subscriber in the order they were published, using a per-key sequence number. Dead letter topics are configured on the subscription and automatically forward messages that exceed the maximum delivery attempts (default 5) to the dead letter topic, preserving the ordering key for later inspection.
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.
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 PDE question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a dead letter topic — A dead letter topic is correct because it allows undeliverable messages to be moved to a separate topic after all delivery attempts are exhausted, preventing message loss while still enabling at-least-once delivery semantics. This ensures that problematic messages do not block the processing of subsequent messages in the same ordering key group, which is critical when message ordering is enabled.
What should I do if I get this PDE 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: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
This PDE 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 PDE exam.
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