- A
Preemptible instances cannot be used with the standard cluster mode
Why wrong: Preemptible instances can be used with standard mode.
- B
Jobs must be designed to handle node preemption, and overall job runtime may increase
Preemption can cause task re-execution, so fault tolerance is required and runtime may increase.
- C
Preemptible instances are only available in certain regions
Why wrong: Preemptible VMs are available in most regions.
- D
Jobs will automatically restart from the last checkpoint without any performance impact
Why wrong: While tasks are rescheduled, there can be performance impact due to re-execution.
Question 824 of 1,000
PDE Designing Data Processing Systems Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of designing data processing systems. 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.
An organization runs periodic Apache Spark jobs on Dataproc to process data from Cloud Storage. They want to reduce costs by using preemptible instances for worker nodes. What is a key consideration when using preemptible instances in Dataproc?
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
✓
Jobs must be designed to handle node preemption, and overall job runtime may increase
Preemptible VMs can be terminated at any time, so Spark jobs must be fault-tolerant. Dataproc handles this by automatically rescheduling failed tasks, but the job may take longer.
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.
- ✗
Preemptible instances cannot be used with the standard cluster mode
Why it's wrong here
Preemptible instances can be used with standard mode.
- ✓
Jobs must be designed to handle node preemption, and overall job runtime may increase
Why this is correct
Preemption can cause task re-execution, so fault tolerance is required and runtime may increase.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Preemptible instances are only available in certain regions
Why it's wrong here
Preemptible VMs are available in most regions.
- ✗
Jobs will automatically restart from the last checkpoint without any performance impact
Why it's wrong here
While tasks are rescheduled, there can be performance impact due to re-execution.
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 PDE 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 PDE question test?
Designing Data Processing Systems — This question tests Designing Data Processing Systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Jobs must be designed to handle node preemption, and overall job runtime may increase — Preemptible VMs can be terminated at any time, so Spark jobs must be fault-tolerant. Dataproc handles this by automatically rescheduling failed tasks, but the job may take longer.
What should I do if I get this PDE question wrong?
Identify which PDE 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.
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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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