You have an Azure SQL database.
You identify a long running query.
You need to identify which operation in the query is causing the performance issue.
What should you use to display the query execution plan in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)?
Correct Answer: A
https://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/3685/live-query-statistics-in-sql-server-2016/ Basic Concept: This question tests performance optimization for SQL workloads, including Query Store, automatic tuning, index/statistics maintenance, and engine-level resource behavior.
Why A is Correct: Live Query Statistics is related to operational monitoring or tuning, but it must match the exact signal needed: query history, resource utilization, wait/blocking detail, or automatic remediation. In this scenario, the important constraint is: You need to identify which operation in the query is causing the performance issue. Live Query Statistics satisfies that constraint without adding an unrelated service or manual process.
Why B is Wrong: an estimated execution plan is related to operational monitoring or tuning, but it must match the exact signal needed: query history, resource utilization, wait/blocking detail, or automatic remediation. It does not expose the required metric, query history, wait/blocking signal, or tuning mechanism; using it would not give the administrator the evidence requested.
Why C is Wrong: an actual execution plan is related to operational monitoring or tuning, but it must match the exact signal needed: query history, resource utilization, wait/blocking detail, or automatic remediation. It is useful in other troubleshooting paths, but this scenario requires a more specific monitoring or optimization feature.
Why D is Wrong: Client Statistics is related to operational monitoring or tuning, but it must match the exact signal needed: query history, resource utilization, wait/blocking detail, or automatic remediation. It would produce a different operational signal than the one needed to investigate, alert, or tune the workload in this question.