- A
Use interleaved tables to reduce the number of reads required for hierarchical data.
Why wrong: Interleaved tables optimize for hierarchical queries but do not directly address global low latency.
- B
Select a configuration that places the leader region close to the majority of write traffic.
Leader placement reduces write latency and indirectly benefits read latency.
- C
Ensure the schema uses primary keys that distribute writes evenly across nodes.
Even distribution prevents hot spots and maintains performance across regions.
- D
Add read replicas in remote regions to serve reads with eventual consistency.
Why wrong: Read replicas provide eventual consistency, not strong consistency.
- E
Use a multi-region instance configuration that includes multiple read-write regions.
Multi-region configurations provide low-latency reads globally with strong consistency.
PCDE Plan and manage database infrastructure Practice Question
This PCDE practice question tests your understanding of plan and manage database infrastructure. 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's Cloud Spanner database currently uses a regional configuration in us-central1. Due to growth, the database must support global reads with low latency and maintain strong consistency. The database engineer is evaluating options. Which THREE considerations should the engineer include in the design? (Choose three.)
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
Select a configuration that places the leader region close to the majority of write traffic.
Option B is correct because in a multi-region Cloud Spanner configuration, the leader region handles all writes and must be placed close to the majority of write traffic to minimize write latency. This ensures strong consistency, as all reads are served from the same leader region by default, and global reads with low latency require careful leader placement to avoid cross-region round trips.
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 interleaved tables to reduce the number of reads required for hierarchical data.
Why it's wrong here
Interleaved tables optimize for hierarchical queries but do not directly address global low latency.
- ✓
Select a configuration that places the leader region close to the majority of write traffic.
Why this is correct
Leader placement reduces write latency and indirectly benefits read latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Ensure the schema uses primary keys that distribute writes evenly across nodes.
Why this is correct
Even distribution prevents hot spots and maintains performance across regions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Add read replicas in remote regions to serve reads with eventual consistency.
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas provide eventual consistency, not strong consistency.
- ✓
Use a multi-region instance configuration that includes multiple read-write regions.
Why this is correct
Multi-region configurations provide low-latency reads globally with strong consistency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that read replicas can provide strong consistency, but in Cloud Spanner, read replicas only serve eventually consistent reads, while strong consistency requires contacting the leader region or using a multi-region configuration with read-write regions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Spanner multi-region configurations use a single leader region for writes and multiple read-write regions that can serve strongly consistent reads via the 'single-region' or 'leader-homing' routing. The leader region is elected using Paxos, and placing it near write-heavy workloads reduces commit latency. For global reads with low latency, applications can use 'stale reads' or 'exact-staleness' reads, but strong consistency requires reads to contact the leader, so leader placement is critical.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDE question test?
Plan and manage database infrastructure — This question tests Plan and manage database infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Select a configuration that places the leader region close to the majority of write traffic. — Option B is correct because in a multi-region Cloud Spanner configuration, the leader region handles all writes and must be placed close to the majority of write traffic to minimize write latency. This ensures strong consistency, as all reads are served from the same leader region by default, and global reads with low latency require careful leader placement to avoid cross-region round trips.
What should I do if I get this PCDE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This PCDE 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 PCDE exam.
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