PCEP Timed Practice Test 1 — 10 Questions

Question 1

Which THREE of the following statements about Python data types are correct? (Choose three.)

Accepted Answer

Tuples are immutable.. Option C is correct because tuples in Python are immutable, meaning once created, their elements cannot be changed, added, or removed. This immutability makes tuples hashable and usable as dictionary keys, unlike lists.

Answer

Strings are mutable.

Answer

Sets are immutable.

Question 2

A developer writes the following code snippet:
for i in range(3):
    for j in range(2):
        if i == j:
            break
    else:
        print(i, 'outer')
What is the output?

Accepted Answer

2 outer. The code uses nested loops with a `for-else` construct. The `else` block executes only if the inner loop completes without a `break`. When `i == j`, the `break` exits the inner loop, skipping the `else`. For `i=0`, `j=0` triggers `break`; for `i=1`, `j=1` triggers `break`; for `i=2`, the inner loop runs `j=0,1` without any `i==j` (since 2 != 0 and 2 != 1), so the `else` executes, printing `2 outer`. Thus, only option B is correct.

Answer

0 outer
2 outer

Answer

0 outer
1 outer
2 outer

Answer

No output

Question 3

Order the steps to write a for loop that iterates over a range of numbers.

Question 4

Arrange the steps to slice a list in Python.

Question 5

Order the steps to create and use a list in Python.

Question 6

Arrange the steps to write and run a Python script from the command line in the correct order.

Question 7

Arrange the steps to handle an exception in Python using try-except.

Question 8

Order the steps to debug a Python script using print statements.

Question 9

A program calculates the total price including tax: total = price * 1.08. The variable price is assigned as price = 100.0. After execution, total is 108.0. The developer then changes price to 100. What will total be?

Accepted Answer

108.0. Option C is correct because in Python, multiplying an integer (100) by a float (1.08) results in a float (108.0). The expression `price * 1.08` performs implicit type coercion to float, so even when `price` is changed from 100.0 to 100, the result remains 108.0, not 108.

Answer

The program will raise a TypeError

Answer

It depends on the Python version

Answer

108

Question 10

Which of the following is the correct way to define a function that takes no arguments and returns the value 42?

Accepted Answer

def f(): return 42. Option D is correct because in Python, a function is defined using the `def` keyword, followed by the function name, parentheses (even for no arguments), a colon, and the body with `return 42`. This syntax is required by the Python language specification.

Answer

function f(): return 42

Answer

def f(): return 42

Answer

def f: return 42