Few tricky Questions about SQL Server 2008 that I came across...

  • Few Questions about SQL Server 2008 that I came across.

    Q: Which of the following allows for the truncation of a transaction log?

    A. Transaction logs are truncated when you use SQL Profiler.

    B. Transaction logs are truncated when you use the following syntax: truncate table A

    C. Transaction logs are truncated when you backup your database.

    D. You can not backup transaction log.

    Q: Which of the following statements about unique Constraints are TRUE?

    A. You can have only one unique constraint applied to a table.

    B. Unique constraints can be used to establish a link between two tables.

    C. You can only have one column assigned to a unique constraint.

    D. If a primary key was already assigned to a table, the unique constraint would identify a special column used for indexing,

    Q: Which of the following is an improved performance feature that uses bitmap filters for selecting minimal rows with queries?

    A. Table partitions

    B. Star Join

    C. Where clause

    D. Outer Join

    Q: Using a join in your select statement instead of a where clause is more efficient because the join pulls less data into your working memory.

    A. True

    B. False

    Q: Full text indexes can be backed up and restored with the rest of the database due to the ...

    A. ...new index organization system

    B. ...overall size of the index getting smaller.

    C. ...index becoming a part of the transaction logs.

    D. ...indexes no longer being stored outside of the database.

    Q. Which of the following statements, if used for creating a new login id, will result in an error?

    A. CREATE LOGIN [HumanResources/JohnSmith] FROM WINDOWS

    B. CREATE LOGIN AndrewWalters WITH PASSWORD '!^%&7', DEFAULT DATABASE = HR

    C. CREATE LOGIN John WITH PASSWORD '*&!@*&'

    D. CREATE LOGIN [HumanResources/Jim] FROM WINDOWS, DEFAULT DATABASE=CRM

    Q. Which of the following statements can be used to provide sorted result set based in the CustomerName column?

    A. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() AS RN, CustomerName from Customers order by CustomerName

    B. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY CustomerName) AS RN, CustomerName FROM Customers

    C. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() (ORDER BY CustomerName) AS RN, from Customers

    D. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() AS RN, CustomerName from Customers

  • Why are these tricky? Seems more like you didn't want to do your homework yourself... All of these answers can be found by using google or searching SSC.

    Jared
    CE - Microsoft

  • SQLKnowItAll (1/10/2012)


    Why are these tricky?

    Because a lot of the right answers are actually wrong or incomplete.

    I always hated those super beginner questions.

  • Ninja's_RGR'us (1/10/2012)


    SQLKnowItAll (1/10/2012)


    Why are these tricky?

    Because a lot of the right answers are actually wrong or incomplete.

    I always hated those super beginner questions.

    Just follow the multiple choice pattern... ABBACADABBA

    Jared
    CE - Microsoft

  • On some questions the answer would be "E: none of the above / it depends" (or C, respectively)



    Lutz
    A pessimist is an optimist with experience.

    How to get fast answers to your question[/url]
    How to post performance related questions[/url]
    Links for Tally Table [/url] , Cross Tabs [/url] and Dynamic Cross Tabs [/url], Delimited Split Function[/url]

  • I agree Lutz, but I am just curious to see what you all think.

  • JagWalia (1/10/2012)


    I agree Lutz, but I am just curious to see what you all think.

    Ignoring the fact that these questions and answers are not worded correctly, it is clear with the multiple choice design that they were not developed to see what people "think." Its like asking

    Q. 1+1=?

    a.1

    b.2

    c.3

    d.4

    and then asking our "opinions." You will not succeed if you do not find out these answers on your own.

    Jared
    CE - Microsoft

  • Why don't you tell us what you think and why you think the questions are tricky and/or what your answer would be?

    I think it's fair enough to have a discussion about your answers (edit: and reasons why you think it's the correct answer) rather than you just using our thoughts...

    After all: we haven't been asked the questions originally... 😉



    Lutz
    A pessimist is an optimist with experience.

    How to get fast answers to your question[/url]
    How to post performance related questions[/url]
    Links for Tally Table [/url] , Cross Tabs [/url] and Dynamic Cross Tabs [/url], Delimited Split Function[/url]

  • JagWalia (1/10/2012)


    Q: Which of the following allows for the truncation of a transaction log?

    A. Transaction logs are truncated when you use SQL Profiler.

    B. Transaction logs are truncated when you use the following syntax: truncate table A

    C. Transaction logs are truncated when you backup your database.

    D. You can not backup transaction log.

    None of the above. They're all wrong.

    Q: Which of the following statements about unique Constraints are TRUE?

    A. You can have only one unique constraint applied to a table.

    B. Unique constraints can be used to establish a link between two tables.

    C. You can only have one column assigned to a unique constraint.

    D. If a primary key was already assigned to a table, the unique constraint would identify a special column used for indexing,

    None of the above. They're all wrong.

    Q: Using a join in your select statement instead of a where clause is more efficient because the join pulls less data into your working memory.

    A. True

    B. False

    The day someone shows me a join in a select clause.... (select statement is the entire thing, select, from, where, group by, having, order by)

    Q. Which of the following statements, if used for creating a new login id, will result in an error?

    A. CREATE LOGIN [HumanResources/JohnSmith] FROM WINDOWS

    B. CREATE LOGIN AndrewWalters WITH PASSWORD '!^%&7', DEFAULT DATABASE = HR

    C. CREATE LOGIN John WITH PASSWORD '*&!@*&'

    D. CREATE LOGIN [HumanResources/Jim] FROM WINDOWS, DEFAULT DATABASE=CRM

    Here's a suggestion: run them and see...

    Q. Which of the following statements can be used to provide sorted result set based in the CustomerName column?

    A. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() AS RN, CustomerName from Customers order by CustomerName

    B. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY CustomerName) AS RN, CustomerName FROM Customers

    C. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() (ORDER BY CustomerName) AS RN, from Customers

    D. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() AS RN, CustomerName from Customers

    None of them.

    If that was a sample test or some training material that you bought, get a refund.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • GilaMonster, thanks for replying those questions. I got these questions prior to the interview. I can see login ID question is a syntax issue and I can find the correct one on the net but rest of them are something I am not sure of.

  • If I got those from a company prior to an interview, I would think twice (or more) about whether I wanted to work there. Whoever wrote those questions has no clue about SQL, they are so way wrong it's not even funny.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • GilaMonster (1/10/2012)


    JagWalia (1/10/2012)


    Q. Which of the following statements can be used to provide sorted result set based in the CustomerName column?

    A. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() AS RN, CustomerName from Customers order by CustomerName

    B. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY CustomerName) AS RN, CustomerName FROM Customers

    C. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() (ORDER BY CustomerName) AS RN, from Customers

    D. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() AS RN, CustomerName from Customers[/quote-0]

    None of them.

    If that was a sample test or some training material that you bought, get a refund.

    Curious as to why you said none of them. The question is worded in a way that it can be read differently. I was thinking one of them is right though, without giving that one away.

  • JagWalia (1/10/2012)


    GilaMonster, thanks for replying those questions. I got these questions prior to the interview. I can see login ID question is a syntax issue and I can find the correct one on the net but rest of them are something I am not sure of.

    I don't mean to sound arrogant or mean, but if you cannot intelligently come up with a response to those questions as to why they are wrong or why the answers are not complete you should pass on this job. If not to save yourself from a job fit that is not right for you, do it for the people that you will have to work with.

    Jared
    CE - Microsoft

  • brendan woulfe (1/10/2012)


    GilaMonster (1/10/2012)


    JagWalia (1/10/2012)


    Q. Which of the following statements can be used to provide sorted result set based in the CustomerName column?

    A. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() AS RN, CustomerName from Customers order by CustomerName

    B. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY CustomerName) AS RN, CustomerName FROM Customers

    C. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() (ORDER BY CustomerName) AS RN, from Customers

    D. SELECT ROW_NUMBER() AS RN, CustomerName from Customers[/quote-0]

    None of them.

    If that was a sample test or some training material that you bought, get a refund.

    Curious as to why you said none of them. The question is worded in a way that it can be read differently. I was thinking one of them is right though, without giving that one away.

    Not a single one has an Order By clause. You cannot guarantee an ordered result. It's a syntax question for the use of ROW_NUMBER(), but is pointless without the final outer ORDER BY clause.


    - Craig Farrell

    Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.

    For better assistance in answering your questions[/url] | Forum Netiquette
    For index/tuning help, follow these directions.[/url] |Tally Tables[/url]

    Twitter: @AnyWayDBA

  • This one makes me laugh:

    Q: Which of the following is an improved performance feature that uses bitmap filters for selecting minimal rows with queries?

    A. Table partitions

    B. Star Join

    C. Where clause

    D. Outer Join

    That's just hysterical. It's bad enough few enough people understand what a bitmap does and how bit/byte comparisons work, but... WOW. ROFL


    - Craig Farrell

    Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.

    For better assistance in answering your questions[/url] | Forum Netiquette
    For index/tuning help, follow these directions.[/url] |Tally Tables[/url]

    Twitter: @AnyWayDBA

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