- A
Create a BigQuery table snapshot at the desired point in time and share it.
Why wrong: Table snapshots incur storage costs based on the size of the snapshot. Although they provide point-in-time reads, they are not as cost-effective as clones.
- B
Create a BigQuery table clone at the desired point in time and share it with the partner.
A table clone is a zero-copy, read-only snapshot that does not incur additional storage costs (until data changes). It provides point-in-time consistency.
- C
Export the table to Cloud Storage as Avro and share a signed URL.
Why wrong: Exporting incurs export costs and storage costs in GCS. The partner would need to load into BigQuery, adding more costs.
- D
Grant the partner access to the original table with an authorized view.
Why wrong: This gives access to the live table, not a point-in-time snapshot. Also, the partner's queries incur analysis costs on the company's slot reservations if not using on-demand.
PDE Maintaining and Automating Data Workloads Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of maintaining and automating data workloads. 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 wants to share a large BigQuery dataset with a partner for analysis. The partner needs read-only access to a specific snapshot of the data as of a certain point in time, and the company wants to avoid additional storage costs for the partner. What is the most cost-effective approach?
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 BigQuery table clone at the desired point in time and share it with the partner.
BigQuery table clones are zero-copy clones that share the underlying storage with the base table. They do not incur additional storage costs until the data in the clone is modified. Snapshots incur storage costs for the snapshot. Authorized views or datasets require the partner to query the base table, which may incur analysis costs but no extra storage; however, the partner may see changes to the base table. The question specifies a point-in-time snapshot, so a clone is best.
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 a BigQuery table snapshot at the desired point in time and share it.
Why it's wrong here
Table snapshots incur storage costs based on the size of the snapshot. Although they provide point-in-time reads, they are not as cost-effective as clones.
- ✓
Create a BigQuery table clone at the desired point in time and share it with the partner.
Why this is correct
A table clone is a zero-copy, read-only snapshot that does not incur additional storage costs (until data changes). It provides point-in-time consistency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Export the table to Cloud Storage as Avro and share a signed URL.
Why it's wrong here
Exporting incurs export costs and storage costs in GCS. The partner would need to load into BigQuery, adding more costs.
- ✗
Grant the partner access to the original table with an authorized view.
Why it's wrong here
This gives access to the live table, not a point-in-time snapshot. Also, the partner's queries incur analysis costs on the company's slot reservations if not using on-demand.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PDE 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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Maintaining and Automating Data Workloads — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PDE question test?
Maintaining and Automating Data Workloads — This question tests Maintaining and Automating Data Workloads — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a BigQuery table clone at the desired point in time and share it with the partner. — BigQuery table clones are zero-copy clones that share the underlying storage with the base table. They do not incur additional storage costs until the data in the clone is modified. Snapshots incur storage costs for the snapshot. Authorized views or datasets require the partner to query the base table, which may incur analysis costs but no extra storage; however, the partner may see changes to the base table. The question specifies a point-in-time snapshot, so a clone is best.
What should I do if I get this PDE question wrong?
Identify which PDE 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.
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 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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