This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploying applications. 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.
A company is migrating a legacy Java application to Cloud Run. The application requires a specific Java version (Java 11) and writes temporary files to disk. The application also uses a proprietary library that is not available in public repositories. The team has created a Dockerfile that installs Java 11, copies the JAR file, and sets the entrypoint. They are using Cloud Build to build the container and deploying to Cloud Run. The deployment succeeds, but when they send requests, the application fails with a "Permission denied" error when trying to write to /tmp. The team has verified that the Cloud Run service has the correct permissions via a service account. They have also checked that the filesystem is writable at /tmp by default. What is the most likely cause of the error?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Change the base image to one that includes Java 11 and ensures the /tmp directory is writable.
Option B is correct because the base image used might not have the proper filesystem layout or permissions for /tmp. Using a standard base image like gcr.io/distroless/java or an official OpenJDK image ensures that /tmp is writable. Option A is incorrect because memory limits do not affect write permissions. Option C is incorrect because if the filesystem is read-only, chmod will also fail; moreover, Cloud Run's security constraints may prevent such changes. Option D is incorrect because Cloud Storage FUSE is not needed and adds complexity; the issue is with the base image.
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.
✗
Add a RUN chmod 777 /tmp command in the Dockerfile before the entrypoint.
Why it's wrong here
If the filesystem is read-only, chmod will fail; also, this is not a recommended practice.
✗
Increase the memory limit of the Cloud Run service.
Why it's wrong here
Memory limit does not affect filesystem write permissions.
✓
Change the base image to one that includes Java 11 and ensures the /tmp directory is writable.
Why this is correct
A proper base image with the correct filesystem permissions resolves the issue.
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.
✗
Use a Cloud Storage FUSE mount for temporary storage.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, it is not the most direct solution and introduces latency; the root cause is the base image.
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 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.
Deploying applications — This question tests Deploying applications — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change the base image to one that includes Java 11 and ensures the /tmp directory is writable. — Option B is correct because the base image used might not have the proper filesystem layout or permissions for /tmp. Using a standard base image like gcr.io/distroless/java or an official OpenJDK image ensures that /tmp is writable. Option A is incorrect because memory limits do not affect write permissions. Option C is incorrect because if the filesystem is read-only, chmod will also fail; moreover, Cloud Run's security constraints may prevent such changes. Option D is incorrect because Cloud Storage FUSE is not needed and adds complexity; the issue is with the base image.
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.
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.
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Question Discussion
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