AZ-400 Design and implement source control Practice Question
This AZ-400 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement source control. 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.
An organization has multiple Git repositories. Developers often forget to update the repository README file after making changes. What is the most effective way to ensure the README is always up-to-date?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a repository template with a mandatory README file structure
Option C is correct because using a repository template with a mandatory README file structure enforces a consistent baseline for all new repositories, ensuring that a README is always present and follows a predefined format. This approach addresses the root cause—developers forgetting to update the README—by making the README an integral part of the repository creation process, rather than relying on post-hoc checks or manual reviews. In Azure Repos, repository templates can include required files and folder structures, which are automatically applied when a new repository is created from the template, thereby preventing the omission of the README from the start.
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.
✗
Apply a label to PRs that touch certain files and require review
Why it's wrong here
Labels do not enforce updates to README.
✗
Add a task in the CI pipeline that checks if the README was modified
Why it's wrong here
The pipeline can check but cannot prevent merging; it can only fail the build.
✓
Use a repository template with a mandatory README file structure
Why this is correct
Templates provide a starting point and can include a README that developers must fill.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "always" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Require a pull request comment that confirms README update
Why it's wrong here
Comments are not enforceable automatically.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often overestimate the effectiveness of CI pipeline checks or PR requirements, failing to recognize that only a structural enforcement mechanism (like a template) can guarantee the presence of a file, whereas content accuracy requires human review or advanced automation that is not implied in the options.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Repository templates in Azure Repos (and GitHub) work by defining a base commit with a set of files and directories that are copied into every new repository created from the template. This mechanism leverages Git's underlying object storage to clone the template's commit tree, ensuring that mandatory files like README.md are present from the first commit. In contrast, CI pipeline checks (Option B) typically use tools like `git diff` to compare the current commit against a baseline, but they cannot semantically verify that the README accurately reflects the code changes—a known limitation of static analysis in version control workflows.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-400 question in full detail.
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: Use a repository template with a mandatory README file structure — Option C is correct because using a repository template with a mandatory README file structure enforces a consistent baseline for all new repositories, ensuring that a README is always present and follows a predefined format. This approach addresses the root cause—developers forgetting to update the README—by making the README an integral part of the repository creation process, rather than relying on post-hoc checks or manual reviews. In Azure Repos, repository templates can include required files and folder structures, which are automatically applied when a new repository is created from the template, thereby preventing the omission of the README from the start.
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: "always". Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
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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