- A
Use Cloud SQL connection pooling to share connections
Why wrong: Connection pooling does not offload queries; it only manages connections.
- B
Upgrade the primary instance to a high-memory machine type
Why wrong: Upgrading the primary may help performance but does not fully isolate reporting workload.
- C
Enable automatic storage increase on the primary instance
Why wrong: Storage increase does not offload queries; it only increases disk capacity.
- D
Create a cross-region Cloud SQL read replica and direct reporting queries to it
A read replica offloads read traffic; cross-region provides additional DR benefits.
Question 887 of 980
Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
PCD Practice Question: Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploy scalable and highly available databases in google cloud. 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.
An organization has a Cloud SQL for MySQL instance with 500 GB of data. They want to offload reporting queries that scan large portions of the database without impacting the primary instance's performance. Which solution should they implement?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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 cross-region Cloud SQL read replica and direct reporting queries to it
Creating a cross-region read replica distributes read traffic and isolates reporting workloads from the primary. Cloud SQL read replicas are asynchronous and can be promoted if needed. For read-only queries, this is the correct approach.
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 Cloud SQL connection pooling to share connections
Why it's wrong here
Connection pooling does not offload queries; it only manages connections.
- ✗
Upgrade the primary instance to a high-memory machine type
Why it's wrong here
Upgrading the primary may help performance but does not fully isolate reporting workload.
- ✗
Enable automatic storage increase on the primary instance
Why it's wrong here
Storage increase does not offload queries; it only increases disk capacity.
- ✓
Create a cross-region Cloud SQL read replica and direct reporting queries to it
Why this is correct
A read replica offloads read traffic; cross-region provides additional DR benefits.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
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Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud — This question tests Deploy Scalable and Highly Available Databases in Google Cloud — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a cross-region Cloud SQL read replica and direct reporting queries to it — Creating a cross-region read replica distributes read traffic and isolates reporting workloads from the primary. Cloud SQL read replicas are asynchronous and can be promoted if needed. For read-only queries, this is the correct approach.
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: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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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