- A
The service type is NodePort instead of LoadBalancer.
Why wrong: For an internal load balancer, the service type must be LoadBalancer with internal annotation, but NodePort can still work with additional configuration.
- B
The pods have failing readiness probes that are preventing them from being added to the load balancer's backend endpoints.
Readiness probes determine whether a pod is ready to serve traffic. If they fail, the pod is removed from the endpoint list, causing no traffic.
- C
The cluster does not have enough nodes to schedule the pods.
Why wrong: If pods were not scheduled, they would not exist; the question states pods exist but not receiving traffic.
- D
The firewall rules are not allowing traffic from the load balancer to the nodes.
Why wrong: Internal load balancer uses a proxy subnet; firewall rules are typically auto-configured.
Cloud Digital Leader Practice Question: Google Cloud products, services, and solutions
This GCDL practice question tests your understanding of google cloud products, services, and solutions. 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 migrated a microservices application to Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). They set up an internal HTTP(S) load balancer to route traffic to the services. However, some pods are not receiving traffic. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The pods have failing readiness probes that are preventing them from being added to the load balancer's backend endpoints.
Readiness probes determine whether a pod is ready to serve traffic. If they fail, the pod is removed from the endpoint list, causing no traffic. Firewall rules for internal load balancers are typically auto-configured.
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.
- ✗
The service type is NodePort instead of LoadBalancer.
Why it's wrong here
For an internal load balancer, the service type must be LoadBalancer with internal annotation, but NodePort can still work with additional configuration.
- ✓
The pods have failing readiness probes that are preventing them from being added to the load balancer's backend endpoints.
Why this is correct
Readiness probes determine whether a pod is ready to serve traffic. If they fail, the pod is removed from the endpoint list, causing no traffic.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The cluster does not have enough nodes to schedule the pods.
Why it's wrong here
If pods were not scheduled, they would not exist; the question states pods exist but not receiving traffic.
- ✗
The firewall rules are not allowing traffic from the load balancer to the nodes.
Why it's wrong here
Internal load balancer uses a proxy subnet; firewall rules are typically auto-configured.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which GCDL 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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Google Cloud products, services, and solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this GCDL question test?
Google Cloud products, services, and solutions — This question tests Google Cloud products, services, and solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The pods have failing readiness probes that are preventing them from being added to the load balancer's backend endpoints. — Readiness probes determine whether a pod is ready to serve traffic. If they fail, the pod is removed from the endpoint list, causing no traffic. Firewall rules for internal load balancers are typically auto-configured.
What should I do if I get this GCDL question wrong?
Identify which GCDL 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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 23, 2026
This GCDL 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 GCDL exam.
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