- A
Add a composite index to the container
Why wrong: Composite indexes improve query performance, not throughput.
- B
Increase the provisioned throughput (RU/s) for the container
More RU/s means more capacity for reads and writes.
- C
Enable multi-region writes for the Cosmos DB account
Why wrong: Multi-region writes improve write latency, not read throughput.
- D
Change the default consistency level to Strong
Why wrong: Strong consistency is slower and more resource-intensive.
Question 304 of 997
AZ-204 Practice Question: Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions
This AZ-204 practice question tests your understanding of monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize azure solutions. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Your application uses Azure Cosmos DB with the SQL API. You notice that read requests are being throttled (HTTP 429) during peak hours. You need to improve read performance without changing the application code. Which action should you take?
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
✓
Increase the provisioned throughput (RU/s) for the container
Throttling (HTTP 429) occurs when the consumed request units per second exceed the provisioned throughput. Increasing the provisioned RU/s for the container directly raises the capacity, allowing more read requests per second without any code changes. This is the simplest and most direct way to eliminate throttling under peak load.
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.
- ✗
Add a composite index to the container
Why it's wrong here
Composite indexes improve query performance, not throughput.
- ✓
Increase the provisioned throughput (RU/s) for the container
Why this is correct
More RU/s means more capacity for reads and writes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable multi-region writes for the Cosmos DB account
Why it's wrong here
Multi-region writes improve write latency, not read throughput.
- ✗
Change the default consistency level to Strong
Why it's wrong here
Strong consistency is slower and more resource-intensive.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse performance optimization (indexing, consistency) with capacity management; throttling is always a throughput capacity problem, not a query or consistency problem.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Azure Cosmos DB meters all operations in Request Units (RUs). A point read (1 KB item) costs 1 RU, but a query or a read with Strong consistency can cost more. Increasing provisioned RU/s is a horizontal scaling action that allocates more physical partitions and resources to handle higher throughput. The 429 response includes a 'x-ms-retry-after-ms' header; the SDK automatically retries, but sustained throttling increases latency, so raising RU/s is the proper fix.
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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Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-204 question test?
Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions — This question tests Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize Azure solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Increase the provisioned throughput (RU/s) for the container — Throttling (HTTP 429) occurs when the consumed request units per second exceed the provisioned throughput. Increasing the provisioned RU/s for the container directly raises the capacity, allowing more read requests per second without any code changes. This is the simplest and most direct way to eliminate throttling under peak load.
What should I do if I get this AZ-204 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: Jul 4, 2026
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