- A
Create read replicas and direct read queries to them.
Read replicas handle read traffic, reducing load on the primary instance.
- B
Increase the tier of the Cloud SQL instance.
Why wrong: Scaling up helps but is less cost-effective than adding read replicas.
- C
Create a Cloud SQL failover replica.
Why wrong: Failover replicas are for high availability, not for offloading reads.
- D
Use Cloud Memorystore as a cache in front of Cloud SQL.
Why wrong: Caching can help but requires application changes and doesn't offload SQL reads directly.
Question 792 of 1,000
PDE Storing the Data Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of storing the data. 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.
A Cloud SQL instance for PostgreSQL is experiencing heavy read traffic. The team wants to offload read queries while maintaining data consistency. Which solution meets their needs?
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 read replicas and direct read queries to them.
Read replicas in Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL allow you to offload read traffic from the primary instance by creating one or more asynchronous replicas that serve read queries. This maintains data consistency because replicas use PostgreSQL's native streaming replication, ensuring that all committed transactions on the primary are eventually reflected on the replica, providing a consistent snapshot for read operations.
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.
- ✓
Create read replicas and direct read queries to them.
Why this is correct
Read replicas handle read traffic, reducing load on the primary instance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the tier of the Cloud SQL instance.
Why it's wrong here
Scaling up helps but is less cost-effective than adding read replicas.
- ✗
Create a Cloud SQL failover replica.
Why it's wrong here
Failover replicas are for high availability, not for offloading reads.
- ✗
Use Cloud Memorystore as a cache in front of Cloud SQL.
Why it's wrong here
Caching can help but requires application changes and doesn't offload SQL reads directly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between read replicas (for offloading reads) and failover replicas (for high availability), so candidates may confuse the two and incorrectly select the failover replica option.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud SQL read replicas use PostgreSQL's built-in streaming replication over TCP port 5432, where the replica continuously applies WAL (Write-Ahead Log) records from the primary. This asynchronous replication means the replica may lag slightly behind the primary, but for read-heavy workloads, this is acceptable as long as the application can tolerate eventual consistency. In a real-world scenario, you might use multiple read replicas with a connection pooler like PgBouncer to distribute read queries, and you can promote a replica to a standalone instance if the primary fails, though this is not its primary purpose.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Storing the Data — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Storing the Data practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PDE question test?
Storing the Data — This question tests Storing the Data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create read replicas and direct read queries to them. — Read replicas in Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL allow you to offload read traffic from the primary instance by creating one or more asynchronous replicas that serve read queries. This maintains data consistency because replicas use PostgreSQL's native streaming replication, ensuring that all committed transactions on the primary are eventually reflected on the replica, providing a consistent snapshot for read operations.
What should I do if I get this PDE 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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PDE 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 PDE exam.
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