- A
Use Cloud Run jobs instead of Cloud Run service
Why wrong: Cloud Run jobs are for batch processing, not HTTP APIs.
- B
Deploy the container to GKE Autopilot with a single pod
Why wrong: GKE Autopilot is more complex and expensive for a simple API; Cloud Run is simpler and cost-effective.
- C
Set max-instances to a high number and min-instances to 0 with CPU always allocated
Why wrong: min-instances=0 may cause cold starts, and CPU always allocated increases cost unnecessarily.
- D
Set min-instances to 1 and max-instances to a value that handles peak traffic with CPU throttled
min-instances=1 reduces cold starts, max-instances controls cost, and CPU throttled (default) is cost-effective.
Question 11 of 1,000
Google ACE Planning and Configuring a Cloud Solution Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of planning and configuring a cloud solution. 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 wants to use Cloud Run to deploy a containerized API that requires up to 8 GB of memory per request. The API experiences unpredictable traffic spikes. They want to minimize cost while ensuring fast cold starts. Which configuration should they use?
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 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
✓
Set min-instances to 1 and max-instances to a value that handles peak traffic with CPU throttled
Cloud Run supports up to 8 GB memory per container (as of 2024). Setting min-instances to a small number (e.g., 1) reduces cold starts, while max-instances limits costs during spikes. CPU boost can also speed up cold starts. Using CPU always allocated increases costs, so CPU throttled (default) is fine. The question emphasizes cost minimization, so setting a minimal min-instances is appropriate.
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 Cloud Run jobs instead of Cloud Run service
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Run jobs are for batch processing, not HTTP APIs.
- ✗
Deploy the container to GKE Autopilot with a single pod
Why it's wrong here
GKE Autopilot is more complex and expensive for a simple API; Cloud Run is simpler and cost-effective.
- ✗
Set max-instances to a high number and min-instances to 0 with CPU always allocated
Why it's wrong here
min-instances=0 may cause cold starts, and CPU always allocated increases cost unnecessarily.
- ✓
Set min-instances to 1 and max-instances to a value that handles peak traffic with CPU throttled
Why this is correct
min-instances=1 reduces cold starts, max-instances controls cost, and CPU throttled (default) is cost-effective.
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.
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 ACE 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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Planning and Configuring a Cloud Solution — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Planning and Configuring a Cloud Solution — This question tests Planning and Configuring a Cloud Solution — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set min-instances to 1 and max-instances to a value that handles peak traffic with CPU throttled — Cloud Run supports up to 8 GB memory per container (as of 2024). Setting min-instances to a small number (e.g., 1) reduces cold starts, while max-instances limits costs during spikes. CPU boost can also speed up cold starts. Using CPU always allocated increases costs, so CPU throttled (default) is fine. The question emphasizes cost minimization, so setting a minimal min-instances is appropriate.
What should I do if I get this ACE question wrong?
Identify which ACE 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.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This ACE 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 ACE exam.
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