Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
DP-900 Practice Question: Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure
Exhibit
{
"name": "data.csv",
"content": "id,name,age\n1,Alice,30\n2,Bob,25"
}Refer to the exhibit. You have a CSV file stored in Azure Blob Storage. You want to query this file using Azure Synapse Serverless SQL. Which OPENROWSET option should you use?
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
✓
FORMAT = 'CSV'
FORMAT = 'CSV'. In Azure Synapse Serverless SQL, the OPENROWSET function with BULK option allows querying files directly. When a CSV file is stored in Azure Blob Storage, you must specify FORMAT = 'CSV' to indicate the file format. Option A (FORMAT = 'JSON') is for JSON files, Option B (FORMAT = 'PARQUET') is for Parquet files, and Option D (FORMAT = 'DELTA') is for Delta Lake tables. Therefore, only FORMAT = 'CSV' correctly handles the CSV file.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
FORMAT = 'JSON'
Why it's wrong here
The FORMAT clause instructs the engine how to deserialize the source file. JSON is a nested, text-based format for semi-structured data, typically with curly braces and key-value pairs. A CSV file contains rows of plain-text fields separated by commas, which will not parse as JSON objects, so choosing FORMAT = 'JSON' would cause parsing errors or produce unexpected results.
- ✗
FORMAT = 'PARQUET'
Why it's wrong here
Parquet is a columnar binary format designed for efficient analytical queries, with built-in compression and column statistics. The file in question is a CSV, which is a row-oriented plain-text format. Specifying FORMAT = 'PARQUET' would make the reader expect a Parquet footer and metadata block; because the file lacks these binary markers, the read operation will fail with a format-validation error.
- ✓
FORMAT = 'CSV'
Why this is correct
CSV is the correct format because it matches the actual structure and encoding of the source file. FORMAT = 'CSV' tells the parser to read each line as a record and split it on commas (or a custom delimiter), handling quotes, headers, and line breaks appropriately. This is the only option that aligns with the file's real content.
- ✗
FORMAT = 'DELTA'
Why it's wrong here
Delta is a table format built on top of Parquet that adds a transaction log for ACID transactions, versioning, and time travel. A standalone CSV blob in Azure Blob storage does not contain a _delta_log directory or the required Parquet data files, so specifying FORMAT = 'DELTA' would fail because the engine expects a structured Delta Lake table rather than raw text data.
Quick reference
Azure Blob Storage Tier Comparison
| Tier | Storage Cost | Retrieval Cost | Latency | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Highest | Lowest | Immediate | Active data, frequent reads |
| Cool | Lower | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / month |
| Cold | Lower still | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / quarter |
| Archive | Lowest | Highest + rehydration delay | Hours | Long-term compliance retention |
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