The answer is SPID 55 is blocked by SPID 54, causing delays. This is correct because the exhibit shows SPID 55 in a suspended state with a non-zero blocked_by value of 54, meaning it is waiting for a lock held by SPID 54, which remains in a sleeping state but still retains locks. When a Power BI report is slow due to blocking, a SQL Server suspended query like this directly prevents the report’s SELECT statement from completing until the blocking session releases its locks. On the PL-900 exam, this scenario tests your ability to interpret a SQL Server activity snapshot and connect database blocking to report performance issues, a common trap being to overlook that a sleeping session can still hold locks. Remember the memory tip: “Blocked by sleeping” means a dormant session is still holding the key.
PL-900 Demonstrate the capabilities of Power BI Practice Question
This PL-900 practice question tests your understanding of demonstrate the capabilities of power bi. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A Power BI report connecting to the SalesDB database is slow. The exhibit shows a SQL Server activity snapshot. What is the most likely cause of the performance issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
SPID 55 is blocked by SPID 54, causing delays
The exhibit shows SPID 55 (a SELECT query) in a 'suspended' state with a non-zero 'blocked_by' column value of 54, indicating it is waiting for a lock held by SPID 54. SPID 54 is in a 'sleeping' state but still holds locks, which blocks SPID 55 from proceeding. This blocking chain directly causes the report's slow performance, as the Power BI query cannot complete until the blocking session releases its locks.
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.
✗
The database server has insufficient memory
Why it's wrong here
No memory-related indicators in the output.
✓
SPID 55 is blocked by SPID 54, causing delays
Why this is correct
BlkBy column shows SPID 55 is blocked by SPID 54.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The SELECT query (SPID 55) is performing a table scan
Why it's wrong here
No evidence of table scan; the issue is blocking.
✗
The sleeping session (SPID 54) is using too much CPU
Why it's wrong here
Sleeping session has 0 CPU time.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates see SPID 54 as 'sleeping' and assume it is idle and harmless, missing that it still holds locks that block other queries, which is the root cause of the performance issue.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
No memory-related indicators in the output.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In SQL Server, blocking occurs when one session holds a lock on a resource (e.g., row, page, table) that another session needs. The 'blocked_by' column in sys.dm_exec_requests directly identifies the blocking SPID. Power BI reports often use default isolation levels (READ COMMITTED) which can lead to blocking if long-running transactions (like an uncommitted UPDATE from SPID 54) hold locks. A sleeping session can still hold locks if it has an open transaction, which is a common oversight.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Demonstrate the capabilities of Power BI — This question tests Demonstrate the capabilities of Power BI — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SPID 55 is blocked by SPID 54, causing delays — The exhibit shows SPID 55 (a SELECT query) in a 'suspended' state with a non-zero 'blocked_by' column value of 54, indicating it is waiting for a lock held by SPID 54. SPID 54 is in a 'sleeping' state but still holds locks, which blocks SPID 55 from proceeding. This blocking chain directly causes the report's slow performance, as the Power BI query cannot complete until the blocking session releases its locks.
What should I do if I get this PL-900 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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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