- A
Create a Cloud SQL read replica and run analytical queries on the replica
A read replica offloads read-only queries from the primary, protecting transactional performance.
- B
Upgrade the primary Cloud SQL instance to a higher machine type
Why wrong: This increases capacity but does not isolate analytical queries; performance impact may persist.
- C
Export the data to Cloud Storage and load it into BigQuery for analysis
Why wrong: This is a batch approach that adds latency and complexity; for near-real-time analytics, a replica is better.
- D
Enable Cloud SQL query caching on the primary instance
Why wrong: Query caching only helps if the same queries are run repeatedly; it does not reduce load from complex ad-hoc queries.
Question 660 of 1,000
Cloud Digital Leader Google Cloud Products and Services Practice Question
This GCDL practice question tests your understanding of google cloud products and services. 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 uses Cloud SQL for MySQL to store transactional data. They want to run complex analytical queries that join multiple tables and aggregate millions of rows, but the queries are slow and impacting production performance. They need a solution that minimises impact on the transactional database. What is the BEST approach?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 Cloud SQL read replica and run analytical queries on the replica
Setting up a read replica in Cloud SQL moves analytical queries off the primary instance, preventing performance impact. BigQuery is designed for analytics but would require data export/import, adding latency. Enabling query caching only helps repeated identical queries. Increasing machine type helps but doesn't fully isolate analytical workload.
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 Cloud SQL read replica and run analytical queries on the replica
Why this is correct
A read replica offloads read-only queries from the primary, protecting transactional performance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Upgrade the primary Cloud SQL instance to a higher machine type
Why it's wrong here
This increases capacity but does not isolate analytical queries; performance impact may persist.
- ✗
Export the data to Cloud Storage and load it into BigQuery for analysis
Why it's wrong here
This is a batch approach that adds latency and complexity; for near-real-time analytics, a replica is better.
- ✗
Enable Cloud SQL query caching on the primary instance
Why it's wrong here
Query caching only helps if the same queries are run repeatedly; it does not reduce load from complex ad-hoc queries.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this GCDL question test?
Google Cloud Products and Services — This question tests Google Cloud Products and Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a Cloud SQL read replica and run analytical queries on the replica — Setting up a read replica in Cloud SQL moves analytical queries off the primary instance, preventing performance impact. BigQuery is designed for analytics but would require data export/import, adding latency. Enabling query caching only helps repeated identical queries. Increasing machine type helps but doesn't fully isolate analytical workload.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 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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