DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of monitor, configure, and optimize database resources. 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.
Your Azure SQL Database is experiencing high CPU usage. You suspect a specific query is causing the issue. You have enabled Query Store. How can you identify the query that has consumed the most cumulative CPU time over the last hour?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use the Query Store Top Resource Consuming Queries report and filter by the last hour.
Option D is correct because the Top Resource Consuming Queries report in Query Store shows cumulative CPU time, duration, and other metrics, allowing easy identification. Option A is wrong because sys.dm_exec_query_stats shows current cached plans but not cumulative over a specific time window. Option B is wrong because the Regressed Queries report shows plan changes, not CPU consumption. Option C is wrong because sys.dm_exec_requests shows currently running queries, not historical cumulative use.
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.
✗
Use sys.dm_exec_query_stats to sort by total_worker_time.
Why it's wrong here
Shows only cached plans; may not reflect the last hour exclusively.
✓
Use the Query Store Top Resource Consuming Queries report and filter by the last hour.
Why this is correct
This report is designed for this purpose, with time filter and cumulative metrics.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use sys.dm_exec_requests to find queries with high CPU.
Why it's wrong here
Shows only currently running queries.
✗
Use the Query Store Regressed Queries report.
Why it's wrong here
Regressed Queries shows queries with plan changes, not necessarily high CPU.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows only cached plans; may not reflect the last hour exclusively.
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 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 DP-300 question in full detail.
Identify which DP-300 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.
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — This question tests Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the Query Store Top Resource Consuming Queries report and filter by the last hour. — Option D is correct because the Top Resource Consuming Queries report in Query Store shows cumulative CPU time, duration, and other metrics, allowing easy identification. Option A is wrong because sys.dm_exec_query_stats shows current cached plans but not cumulative over a specific time window. Option B is wrong because the Regressed Queries report shows plan changes, not CPU consumption. Option C is wrong because sys.dm_exec_requests shows currently running queries, not historical cumulative use.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 question wrong?
Identify which DP-300 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.
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Question Discussion
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