Google ACE Setting up a cloud solution environment Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of setting up a cloud solution environment. 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.
A company runs a batch processing workload on Compute Engine that completes in 30 minutes. The workload is CPU-intensive and runs once daily. The company wants to minimize costs while maintaining performance. Which of the following is the most cost-effective compute option?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a preemptible custom machine type with 4 vCPUs and 8 GB memory.
A preemptible custom machine type with 4 vCPUs and 8 GB memory is the most cost-effective option because the workload is batch, CPU-intensive, fault-tolerant (runs once daily and can be restarted), and completes in 30 minutes — well within the 24-hour maximum preemptible VM lifetime. Preemptible instances offer up to 80% cost savings over standard instances, and a custom machine type avoids paying for unused resources, making this the cheapest viable compute option.
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.
✓
Use a preemptible custom machine type with 4 vCPUs and 8 GB memory.
Why this is correct
Preemptible instances are significantly cheaper and suitable for fault-tolerant batch jobs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a sole-tenant node with a machine type that matches the workload.
Why it's wrong here
Sole-tenant nodes add overhead and are more expensive than regular preemptible VMs.
✗
Use an N1 standard-4 machine without discounts.
Why it's wrong here
A custom machine type or preemptible would be cheaper; N1 standard may have unused resources.
✗
Purchase a 1-year committed use discount for the appropriate machine type.
Why it's wrong here
The workload runs only 30 minutes per day, so a 1-year commitment is not cost-effective.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume committed use discounts (CUDs) are always the cheapest option, but they fail to recognize that preemptible instances are significantly cheaper for short, fault-tolerant batch workloads that do not require sustained usage.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Preemptible instances are Compute Engine VMs that can be terminated by Google Cloud at any time (with a 30-second warning) but cost 60-80% less than standard instances. For batch workloads that are idempotent and can be checkpointed or restarted, preemptible VMs are ideal; the 24-hour maximum lifetime is not an issue here since the job completes in 30 minutes. Custom machine types allow you to specify exact vCPU and memory (e.g., 4 vCPUs, 8 GB) rather than using predefined machine families, which can reduce costs by avoiding over-provisioning.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this ACE question in full detail.
Setting up a cloud solution environment — This question tests Setting up a cloud solution environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a preemptible custom machine type with 4 vCPUs and 8 GB memory. — A preemptible custom machine type with 4 vCPUs and 8 GB memory is the most cost-effective option because the workload is batch, CPU-intensive, fault-tolerant (runs once daily and can be restarted), and completes in 30 minutes — well within the 24-hour maximum preemptible VM lifetime. Preemptible instances offer up to 80% cost savings over standard instances, and a custom machine type avoids paying for unused resources, making this the cheapest viable compute option.
What should I do if I get this ACE 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: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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