- A
Use a multi-region configuration with read-write and read replicas
Multi-region Spanner configurations provide strong consistency for writes and read replicas for low-latency reads.
- B
Use secondary indexes with the STORING clause to avoid index join
Secondary indexes with STORING clause speed up queries by storing additional columns, reducing the need for table lookup.
- C
Use Cloud SQL for reads and Spanner for writes
Why wrong: This would not maintain consistency; Spanner is designed to handle both.
- D
Create interleaved tables for all relationships
Why wrong: Interleaved tables improve locality but not cross-region read latency.
- E
Configure regional configuration with asynchronous replication
Why wrong: Spanner does not support asynchronous replication; multi-region configurations are strongly consistent.
PCD Practice Question: Design Scalable and Highly Available Cloud Database Solutions
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of design scalable and highly available cloud database 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 is designing a global inventory system using Cloud Spanner. They need to ensure data consistency across regions while minimizing latency for read-heavy workloads. Which two strategies should they consider? (Choose two.)
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
Use a multi-region configuration with read-write and read replicas
Multi-region configurations with read replicas provide strong consistency for writes and allow stale reads from read replicas for low-latency reads. Using global secondary indexes improves query performance. Interleaved tables help locality but not cross-region.
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 a multi-region configuration with read-write and read replicas
Why this is correct
Multi-region Spanner configurations provide strong consistency for writes and read replicas for low-latency reads.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use secondary indexes with the STORING clause to avoid index join
Why this is correct
Secondary indexes with STORING clause speed up queries by storing additional columns, reducing the need for table lookup.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Cloud SQL for reads and Spanner for writes
Why it's wrong here
This would not maintain consistency; Spanner is designed to handle both.
- ✗
Create interleaved tables for all relationships
Why it's wrong here
Interleaved tables improve locality but not cross-region read latency.
- ✗
Configure regional configuration with asynchronous replication
Why it's wrong here
Spanner does not support asynchronous replication; multi-region configurations are strongly consistent.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PCD 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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Design Scalable and Highly Available Cloud Database Solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Design Scalable and Highly Available Cloud Database Solutions — This question tests Design Scalable and Highly Available Cloud Database Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a multi-region configuration with read-write and read replicas — Multi-region configurations with read replicas provide strong consistency for writes and allow stale reads from read replicas for low-latency reads. Using global secondary indexes improves query performance. Interleaved tables help locality but not cross-region.
What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?
Identify which PCD 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
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 PCD 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 PCD exam.
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