- A
Set up a Cloud Storage notification to trigger a Cloud Function that loads each file into BigQuery using the BigQuery API.
This approach provides near-real-time loading (within minutes) with minimal operational overhead, as Cloud Functions are serverless.
- B
Schedule a daily batch load from Cloud Storage to BigQuery using the BigQuery Data Transfer Service.
Why wrong: Daily batch does not meet the 15-minute freshness requirement.
- C
Use Dataflow to read from Pub/Sub (ingested from Cloud Storage) and write to BigQuery.
Why wrong: Adding Pub/Sub and Dataflow introduces unnecessary complexity and cost for this simple CSV-to-BigQuery pipeline.
- D
Use BigQuery federated queries to query the CSV files directly from Cloud Storage.
Why wrong: Federated queries have limited performance and are not suitable for frequent interactive queries; also, they don't load data into BigQuery.
PDE Designing data processing systems Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of designing data processing systems. 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 company is building a data lake on Cloud Storage for log analysis. Log files (CSV) arrive every 5 minutes from multiple sources. The files should be ingested into BigQuery for reporting within 15 minutes. Which approach best meets the requirements with minimal operational overhead?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Set up a Cloud Storage notification to trigger a Cloud Function that loads each file into BigQuery using the BigQuery API.
Option A is correct because Cloud Storage notifications trigger a Cloud Function on each file upload, which then loads the file into BigQuery via the BigQuery API. This provides near-real-time ingestion (within seconds of file arrival) with minimal operational overhead, as there are no servers to manage and no scheduling needed. The 5-minute file arrival and 15-minute SLA are easily met without complex infrastructure.
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.
- ✓
Set up a Cloud Storage notification to trigger a Cloud Function that loads each file into BigQuery using the BigQuery API.
Why this is correct
This approach provides near-real-time loading (within minutes) with minimal operational overhead, as Cloud Functions are serverless.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Schedule a daily batch load from Cloud Storage to BigQuery using the BigQuery Data Transfer Service.
Why it's wrong here
Daily batch does not meet the 15-minute freshness requirement.
- ✗
Use Dataflow to read from Pub/Sub (ingested from Cloud Storage) and write to BigQuery.
Why it's wrong here
Adding Pub/Sub and Dataflow introduces unnecessary complexity and cost for this simple CSV-to-BigQuery pipeline.
- ✗
Use BigQuery federated queries to query the CSV files directly from Cloud Storage.
Why it's wrong here
Federated queries have limited performance and are not suitable for frequent interactive queries; also, they don't load data into BigQuery.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that serverless options like Cloud Functions are only for simple tasks, but here they are the most efficient choice for near-real-time ingestion with minimal overhead, while Dataflow is overkill for this straightforward file-load pattern.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud Storage notifications use Pub/Sub under the hood to deliver events, but the Cloud Function abstracts this complexity. The BigQuery API's `jobs.insert` method with a load job can handle CSV files directly, automatically inferring schema if not provided. In a real-world scenario, if files arrive faster than every 5 minutes, the Cloud Function can be configured with a concurrency limit to avoid overwhelming BigQuery, and error handling can be added to retry failed loads.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PDE question test?
Designing data processing systems — This question tests Designing data processing systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set up a Cloud Storage notification to trigger a Cloud Function that loads each file into BigQuery using the BigQuery API. — Option A is correct because Cloud Storage notifications trigger a Cloud Function on each file upload, which then loads the file into BigQuery via the BigQuery API. This provides near-real-time ingestion (within seconds of file arrival) with minimal operational overhead, as there are no servers to manage and no scheduling needed. The 5-minute file arrival and 15-minute SLA are easily met without complex infrastructure.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 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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