Google PCA Manage implementation of cloud architecture Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of manage implementation of cloud architecture. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
$ gcloud compute instances list --zones=us-central1-a,us-central1-b,us-central1-c
NAME ZONE MACHINE_TYPE PREEMPTIBLE STATUS
instance-1 us-central1-a n1-standard-4 yes RUNNING
instance-2 us-central1-b n1-standard-4 yes RUNNING
instance-3 us-central1-c n1-standard-4 yes RUNNING
instance-4 us-central1-a n1-standard-4 yes RUNNING
instance-5 us-central1-b n1-standard-4 yes TERMINATED
instance-6 us-central1-c n1-standard-4 yes RUNNING
A company uses preemptible VMs for batch processing. They notice that during peak hours, many instances are terminated before finishing their tasks. The operations team observes the output shown in the exhibit. Which action would best improve job completion rates without significantly increasing costs?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use instance groups with a mix of preemptible and regular VMs
Option C is correct because using a mixed instance group with both preemptible and regular VMs allows the batch processing job to continue on regular VMs when preemptible VMs are terminated during peak hours. This balances cost and reliability: preemptible VMs handle most of the workload at low cost, while regular VMs act as a fallback to ensure job completion without the full expense of switching entirely to regular VMs.
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.
✗
Increase the number of instances to compensate for terminations
Why it's wrong here
More preemptible instances increase likelihood of terminations; may not improve overall completion.
✗
Use sole-tenant nodes for these instances
Why it's wrong here
Sole-tenant nodes are expensive and do not prevent preemption.
✓
Use instance groups with a mix of preemptible and regular VMs
Why this is correct
Combines cost savings of preemptible with reliability of regular VMs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use committed use discounts for 1 year
Why it's wrong here
Committed use discounts apply to regular VMs, not preemptible.
✗
Switch to regular VMs for critical jobs
Why it's wrong here
Regular VMs increase costs; not all jobs may be critical.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that simply adding more preemptible VMs or switching entirely to regular VMs is the solution, but the correct answer requires a hybrid approach that balances cost and reliability using instance groups with a mix of VM types.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A mixed instance group in Google Cloud uses an instance distribution policy (e.g., 80% preemptible, 20% regular) to balance cost and reliability. When preemptible VMs are terminated (which can happen at any time with a 30-second warning), the group automatically creates replacement regular VMs to maintain the desired capacity, ensuring job completion. This approach leverages the fact that preemptible VMs are up to 80% cheaper but have no SLA, while regular VMs provide a higher guarantee of availability.
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 PCA question in full detail.
Manage implementation of cloud architecture — This question tests Manage implementation of cloud architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use instance groups with a mix of preemptible and regular VMs — Option C is correct because using a mixed instance group with both preemptible and regular VMs allows the batch processing job to continue on regular VMs when preemptible VMs are terminated during peak hours. This balances cost and reliability: preemptible VMs handle most of the workload at low cost, while regular VMs act as a fallback to ensure job completion without the full expense of switching entirely to regular VMs.
What should I do if I get this PCA 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: "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.
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