DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```kusto
StormEvents
| where StartTime > datetime(2024-01-01)
| summarize TotalDamage = sum(DamageProperty) by State
| top 5 by TotalDamage desc
```
The exhibit shows a KQL query in Azure Data Explorer. What is the output of this query?
Refer to the exhibit.
```kusto
StormEvents
| where StartTime > datetime(2024-01-01)
| summarize TotalDamage = sum(DamageProperty) by State
| top 5 by TotalDamage desc
```
A
Bottom 5 states by total property damage
Why wrong: desc means descending, so top 5 highest, not lowest.
B
Top 5 states by total property damage
The query returns top 5 states with highest sum of DamageProperty.
C
All states with total property damage
Why wrong: The top operator limits to 5.
D
All storm events after 2024-01-01
Why wrong: The summarize operator aggregates data, not returns individual events.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Top 5 states by total property damage
The KQL query uses `summarize` to aggregate total property damage by state, then `top 5 by total_property_damage` to return the five states with the highest total damage. The `desc` argument (default) orders the results in descending order, making option B correct.
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.
✗
Bottom 5 states by total property damage
Why it's wrong here
desc means descending, so top 5 highest, not lowest.
✓
Top 5 states by total property damage
Why this is correct
The query returns top 5 states with highest sum of DamageProperty.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
All states with total property damage
Why it's wrong here
The top operator limits to 5.
✗
All storm events after 2024-01-01
Why it's wrong here
The summarize operator aggregates data, not returns individual events.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse `top` with `take` or `limit`, forgetting that `top` implicitly sorts in descending order unless `asc` is specified, leading them to think it returns the bottom values or all rows.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `top` operator in KQL is a shorthand for `order by ... | take ...`, but it is more efficient because it uses a heap-based algorithm to track only the top N items during aggregation. The default sort order is descending, so `top 5 by total_property_damage` is equivalent to `order by total_property_damage desc | take 5`. This operator is particularly useful for large datasets where sorting the entire table would be expensive.
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 DP-900 question in full detail.
Describe core data concepts — This question tests Describe core data concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Top 5 states by total property damage — The KQL query uses `summarize` to aggregate total property damage by state, then `top 5 by total_property_damage` to return the five states with the highest total damage. The `desc` argument (default) orders the results in descending order, making option B correct.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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