- A
Require at least one code reviewer approval for all pull requests into main.
Why wrong: Manual reviews may miss integration issues and do not enforce automated checks.
- B
Configure branch protection on main to require status checks (CI build and tests) to pass before merging.
This ensures that only branches with passing builds and tests can be merged into main.
- C
Adopt a GitFlow-like branching model with a separate release branch for stable code.
Why wrong: This adds complexity but does not prevent merging incomplete feature branches into main directly.
- D
Disable direct pushes to main and enforce all merges through pull requests.
Why wrong: This alone does not prevent merging a failing feature branch; PRs can still merge incomplete code.
- E
Require a linear history on main by enabling 'Rebase and merge' for all pull requests.
Why wrong: Linear history does not enforce quality checks; it only affects commit history.
AZ-400 Design and implement source control Practice Question
This AZ-400 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement source control. 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 development team is using Git for source control. They have a main branch that should always be deployable. Developers work on feature branches and create pull requests to merge into main. Recently, a feature branch with incomplete work was accidentally merged into main, causing build failures. What is the best Git branch strategy to prevent this in the future while maintaining fast feedback?
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.
Clue:
"always"Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
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
Configure branch protection on main to require status checks (CI build and tests) to pass before merging.
Option B is correct because configuring branch protection on main to require status checks (CI build and tests) to pass before merging directly prevents incomplete or broken code from being merged. This enforces that every pull request must pass automated validation, ensuring main remains deployable while still allowing fast feedback through the CI pipeline.
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.
- ✗
Require at least one code reviewer approval for all pull requests into main.
Why it's wrong here
Manual reviews may miss integration issues and do not enforce automated checks.
- ✓
Configure branch protection on main to require status checks (CI build and tests) to pass before merging.
Why this is correct
This ensures that only branches with passing builds and tests can be merged into main.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "always" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Adopt a GitFlow-like branching model with a separate release branch for stable code.
Why it's wrong here
This adds complexity but does not prevent merging incomplete feature branches into main directly.
- ✗
Disable direct pushes to main and enforce all merges through pull requests.
Why it's wrong here
This alone does not prevent merging a failing feature branch; PRs can still merge incomplete code.
- ✗
Require a linear history on main by enabling 'Rebase and merge' for all pull requests.
Why it's wrong here
Linear history does not enforce quality checks; it only affects commit history.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse process controls (like requiring pull requests or code reviews) with automated quality gates (like status checks), mistakenly believing that human review alone is sufficient to catch all integration issues.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Branch protection rules in Azure Repos or GitHub use webhooks to trigger CI pipelines (e.g., Azure Pipelines) on pull request creation or update. The status check mechanism blocks the merge until the CI pipeline reports a successful status, which is typically tied to a build validation policy that runs tests and code analysis. In a real-world scenario, this ensures that even if a developer accidentally pushes incomplete work, the merge button remains disabled until the CI passes, preserving main's stability.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-400 question test?
Design and implement source control — This question tests Design and implement source control — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure branch protection on main to require status checks (CI build and tests) to pass before merging. — Option B is correct because configuring branch protection on main to require status checks (CI build and tests) to pass before merging directly prevents incomplete or broken code from being merged. This enforces that every pull request must pass automated validation, ensuring main remains deployable while still allowing fast feedback through the CI pipeline.
What should I do if I get this AZ-400 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", "always". 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 11, 2026
This AZ-400 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 AZ-400 exam.
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