- A
Create a BigQuery table snapshot of the original table.
Why wrong: Table snapshots incur separate storage costs from the start, and are mainly for point-in-time recovery.
- B
Export the table to Cloud Storage as Avro files and load into a new table.
Why wrong: This incurs export and import costs, and the new table uses separate storage.
- C
Create a view over the original table.
Why wrong: A view does not create a separate copy; it queries the base table each time, and any changes to the base table affect the view.
- D
Create a BigQuery table clone of the original table.
Table clones share storage with the base table, so no additional storage cost initially. Charges apply only for modifications.
Question 458 of 1,000
PDE Maintaining and Automating Data Workloads Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of maintaining and automating data workloads. 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.
You want to create a cost-efficient snapshot of a large BigQuery table that can be used by other teams for read-only analytics without incurring additional storage costs for the base table data. What should you use?
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 BigQuery table clone of the original table.
Option D is correct because a BigQuery table clone creates a read-only, cost-efficient copy of the table that references the underlying storage of the base table, so no additional storage costs are incurred for the base data. Clones are ideal for sharing snapshots for read-only analytics without duplicating storage, and they support time-travel queries within the clone's retention period.
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.
- ✗
Create a BigQuery table snapshot of the original table.
Why it's wrong here
Table snapshots incur separate storage costs from the start, and are mainly for point-in-time recovery.
- ✗
Export the table to Cloud Storage as Avro files and load into a new table.
Why it's wrong here
This incurs export and import costs, and the new table uses separate storage.
- ✗
Create a view over the original table.
Why it's wrong here
A view does not create a separate copy; it queries the base table each time, and any changes to the base table affect the view.
- ✓
Create a BigQuery table clone of the original table.
Why this is correct
Table clones share storage with the base table, so no additional storage cost initially. Charges apply only for modifications.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google often tests the distinction between table clones (zero-cost storage for base data) and table snapshots (which incur storage costs for the snapshot data), leading candidates to mistakenly choose snapshots for cost efficiency.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
BigQuery table clones use copy-on-write semantics, meaning they share the base table's storage until data is modified in the clone, at which point only the changed data incurs additional storage. This makes clones ideal for creating cost-efficient, read-only snapshots for analytics, as they avoid full data duplication while still providing a consistent view. In practice, clones are often used for data sharing across teams in multi-tenant environments where storage costs must be minimized.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Maintaining and Automating Data Workloads — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PDE question test?
Maintaining and Automating Data Workloads — This question tests Maintaining and Automating Data Workloads — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a BigQuery table clone of the original table. — Option D is correct because a BigQuery table clone creates a read-only, cost-efficient copy of the table that references the underlying storage of the base table, so no additional storage costs are incurred for the base data. Clones are ideal for sharing snapshots for read-only analytics without duplicating storage, and they support time-travel queries within the clone's retention period.
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.
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
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