- A
The snapshot cannot be used to create a VM in a different region; the user must first create a disk in the same region and then replicate it.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Snapshots are global resources and can be used to create disks in any region.
- B
The snapshot must be created with '--storage-location=europe-west1' to be usable in that region.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Snapshots are global resources; they can be used to create disks in any region. The storage location only affects where the snapshot data is stored, not its availability for disk creation.
- C
The user must wait for the snapshot operation to complete before using it to create a VM.
Correct: The '--async' flag returns immediately without waiting for the operation to complete. The snapshot must be in a 'READY' state before it can be used.
- D
The user must specify the '--region' flag when creating the snapshot to make it available in europe-west1.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Snapshots are global, not regional. There is no '--region' flag for snapshots.
Google PCA Design and plan a cloud solution architecture Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of design and plan a cloud solution architecture. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A user creates a snapshot of a persistent disk. Later, they want to create a new VM from this snapshot in the same project but in a different region (europe-west1). Which step is missing or incorrect?
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 user must wait for the snapshot operation to complete before using it to create a VM.
The snapshot created is regional (stored in the same region as the source disk). To create a VM in a different region, the snapshot must be made available globally or copied to the target region. The command 'gcloud compute snapshots create' without '--storage-location' defaults to the multi-regional location of the source disk. However, the snapshot can be used across regions if it is a global resource. But to create a VM in a different region directly, the snapshot must be accessible globally, which is the default. The issue is that the command used '--async' which returns immediately, and the user may not have waited for completion. Additionally, the snapshot is not listed because it may not have completed. The correct approach would be to wait for the snapshot to complete before creating the VM.
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 snapshot cannot be used to create a VM in a different region; the user must first create a disk in the same region and then replicate it.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Snapshots are global resources and can be used to create disks in any region.
- ✗
The snapshot must be created with '--storage-location=europe-west1' to be usable in that region.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Snapshots are global resources; they can be used to create disks in any region. The storage location only affects where the snapshot data is stored, not its availability for disk creation.
- ✓
The user must wait for the snapshot operation to complete before using it to create a VM.
Why this is correct
Correct: The '--async' flag returns immediately without waiting for the operation to complete. The snapshot must be in a 'READY' state before it can be used.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The user must specify the '--region' flag when creating the snapshot to make it available in europe-west1.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Snapshots are global, not regional. There is no '--region' flag for snapshots.
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 PCA 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 PCA question test?
Design and plan a cloud solution architecture — This question tests Design and plan a cloud solution architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The user must wait for the snapshot operation to complete before using it to create a VM. — The snapshot created is regional (stored in the same region as the source disk). To create a VM in a different region, the snapshot must be made available globally or copied to the target region. The command 'gcloud compute snapshots create' without '--storage-location' defaults to the multi-regional location of the source disk. However, the snapshot can be used across regions if it is a global resource. But to create a VM in a different region directly, the snapshot must be accessible globally, which is the default. The issue is that the command used '--async' which returns immediately, and the user may not have waited for completion. Additionally, the snapshot is not listed because it may not have completed. The correct approach would be to wait for the snapshot to complete before creating the VM.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Identify which PCA 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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This PCA 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 PCA exam.
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