DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
A data analyst needs to combine sales data from Azure SQL Database and inventory data from Azure Cosmos DB into a single Power BI report. Which Power BI feature should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse the tool (Power BI Desktop) with the feature (Power Query), or they mistakenly think DAX is used for data integration, when in fact DAX operates only on data already in the model, not on source connections.
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
✓
Power Query
Power Query is the correct feature because it is the data connection and transformation engine in Power BI that allows you to connect to multiple data sources—such as Azure SQL Database and Azure Cosmos DB—and combine them into a single dataset for reporting. It provides a graphical interface to merge, append, and shape data from disparate sources before loading it into the data model, which is exactly what the analyst needs to do.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Power Query
Why this is correct
Power Query is the data transformation and connectivity engine built into Power BI Desktop, Excel, and other products. It lets analysts connect to Azure SQL Database, preview and shape the data, and then combine it with other sources using merge (join) or append (union) operations. Its M language provides precise control over transforms before data is loaded into the model, making it the correct direct tool for combining sales data.
- ✗
Power BI Desktop
Why it's wrong here
Power BI Desktop is the client application that hosts the entire report-building workflow, including data import, data modeling, visualizations, and publishing. It is not itself a data combination feature; rather, it invokes Power Query when you choose 'Get Data' or 'Transform Data.' Selecting this option would confuse the container application with the specific mechanism used to connect and merge multiple data sources.
- ✗
DAX formulas
Why it's wrong here
DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is a formula language used for creating calculated columns, measures, and row-level security after data is already loaded into the Power BI data model. It does not connect to external sources or import data, and it cannot combine sales data from Azure SQL Database with other tables. DAX works on an existing in-memory model, so it is irrelevant to the data ingestion and merging stage.
- ✗
Dataflows
Why it's wrong here
Dataflows are a Power Platform and Power BI service feature for creating reusable, shared data preparation objects stored in the Power BI service. They use Power Query behind the scenes, but dataflows operate upstream of a single report and are designed for centralized, scheduled transformation across multiple reports. In the immediate context of building a report in Power BI Desktop, the direct interface to combine sources is Power Query, not dataflows.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Data Roles and Core Concepts
Key term
Data
Data is raw, unprocessed information, like numbers, words, or measurements, that can be stored, processed, and analyzed by computers.
Key term
Report
A report in Azure data services is a structured output that summarizes, visualizes, or details data stored in cloud databases or data warehouses, often used for business intelligence and monitoring.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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