- A
Single-node cluster
Why wrong: Single-node cannot handle hundreds of terabytes.
- B
Standard cluster with preemptible workers for the primary worker nodes
Why wrong: Preemptible workers cannot be used for master or primary workers; only secondary workers can be preemptible.
- C
Standard cluster with preemptible secondary workers
Secondary workers can be preemptible, reducing cost. Primary workers handle coordination and must be standard.
- D
Standard cluster with all standard (non-preemptible) workers
Why wrong: Standard workers are more expensive; preemptible would be cheaper for batch jobs.
Question 574 of 1,000
PDE Designing Data Processing Systems Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of designing data processing systems. 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.
You need to process large-scale log files (hundreds of terabytes) using Apache Spark on Google Cloud. The job runs nightly and you want to minimise costs. Which Dataproc cluster configuration is MOST cost-effective?
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
✓
Standard cluster with preemptible secondary workers
Preemptible VMs are significantly cheaper than standard VMs and suitable for fault-tolerant batch jobs like nightly Spark processing. Standard mode is fine but using preemptible workers reduces cost.
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.
- ✗
Single-node cluster
Why it's wrong here
Single-node cannot handle hundreds of terabytes.
- ✗
Standard cluster with preemptible workers for the primary worker nodes
Why it's wrong here
Preemptible workers cannot be used for master or primary workers; only secondary workers can be preemptible.
- ✓
Standard cluster with preemptible secondary workers
Why this is correct
Secondary workers can be preemptible, reducing cost. Primary workers handle coordination and must be standard.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Standard cluster with all standard (non-preemptible) workers
Why it's wrong here
Standard workers are more expensive; preemptible would be cheaper for batch jobs.
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.
- →
Designing Data Processing Systems — study guide chapter
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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: Standard cluster with preemptible secondary workers — Preemptible VMs are significantly cheaper than standard VMs and suitable for fault-tolerant batch jobs like nightly Spark processing. Standard mode is fine but using preemptible workers reduces cost.
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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