The answer is the Airflow task timed out due to the default execution timeout. When a Cloud Composer task triggers a long-running Dataproc job, the DAG definition often includes an `execution_timeout` parameter that overrides the default 28-day limit. If the Dataproc job runs longer than this set timeout, Airflow’s scheduler sends a SIGTERM signal to forcibly terminate the task, producing the exact error described. On the Google Professional Data Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Airflow’s task lifecycle and how timeout configurations interact with external job orchestration. A common trap is assuming the Dataproc cluster or code failed, but the SIGTERM signal is a clear indicator of a scheduler-initiated kill, not an infrastructure error. Remember: SIGTERM from Airflow means “time’s up,” not “code broke.” Memory tip: think of the SIGTERM as a “Stopwatch” — when the timer hits zero, the task gets the signal.
PDE Practice Question: Building and operationalizing data processing systems
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of building and operationalizing data processing systems. 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 uses Cloud Composer to orchestrate data pipelines. One DAG fails intermittently with the error: 'Task received SIGTERM signal.' The task runs a long-running Dataproc job. What is the most likely cause?
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
✓
The Airflow task timed out due to the default execution timeout.
The default Airflow task execution timeout is 28 days in Cloud Composer, but individual tasks can have a shorter `execution_timeout` set in the DAG definition. When a long-running Dataproc job exceeds this timeout, Airflow sends a SIGTERM signal to the task to kill it, resulting in the observed error. This is the most likely cause because the error message directly indicates a forced termination by the Airflow scheduler, not an infrastructure or code failure.
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.
✗
The Dataproc cluster was preempted by Google Cloud.
Why it's wrong here
Preemption would cause a cluster-level error, not SIGTERM.
✗
The Dataproc job failed due to an error in the code.
Why it's wrong here
A job failure would produce a different error message.
✗
The Cloud Composer environment ran out of disk space.
Why it's wrong here
Disk space issues cause different errors.
✓
The Airflow task timed out due to the default execution timeout.
Why this is correct
SIGTERM indicates the task was killed, possibly due to timeout.
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often attribute SIGTERM errors to infrastructure issues like cluster preemption or disk space, when in fact the error is a direct result of Airflow's task timeout mechanism, which is a common misconfiguration in long-running pipeline tasks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Airflow tasks have a default `execution_timeout` of 28 days, but this can be overridden per task using the `execution_timeout` parameter (e.g., `execution_timeout=timedelta(hours=2)`). When the timeout is reached, the Airflow executor sends a SIGTERM to the task process; if the task does not respond within a grace period (default 30 seconds), a SIGKILL is sent. In Cloud Composer, the DataprocOperator or DataprocSubmitJobOperator may inherit a shorter default timeout from the environment configuration, so long-running jobs must explicitly set a higher timeout or use `DataprocCreateClusterOperator` with `async` mode to avoid premature termination.
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.
Building and operationalizing data processing systems — This question tests Building and operationalizing data processing systems — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The Airflow task timed out due to the default execution timeout. — The default Airflow task execution timeout is 28 days in Cloud Composer, but individual tasks can have a shorter `execution_timeout` set in the DAG definition. When a long-running Dataproc job exceeds this timeout, Airflow sends a SIGTERM signal to the task to kill it, resulting in the observed error. This is the most likely cause because the error message directly indicates a forced termination by the Airflow scheduler, not an infrastructure or code failure.
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: "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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