200-901 Software Development and Design Practice Question
A developer is writing a Python script that processes a large CSV file. The script uses 'with open(file, 'r') as f' to read the file. Why is this approach preferred over calling f = open(file) and then f.close()?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between a language feature (context managers) and unrelated performance or mode characteristics, so candidates may incorrectly associate 'with' with speed or chunking rather than its core purpose of guaranteed cleanup.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
It automatically closes the file when the block exits, even if an exception is raised.
The 'with' statement in Python implements a context manager that automatically calls the file object's __exit__ method when the block exits, ensuring the file is closed even if an exception occurs. This prevents resource leaks and is the recommended pattern for file I/O in Python, as explicitly calling f.close() may be skipped if an exception is raised before the close call.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
It automatically closes the file when the block exits, even if an exception is raised.
Why this is correct
The context manager guarantees cleanup, which is the main advantage.
- ✗
It allows the file to be opened in both read and write mode simultaneously.
Why it's wrong here
The mode is specified; 'r' is read-only.
- ✗
It reduces memory usage by loading the file in chunks.
Why it's wrong here
The 'with' statement does not automatically chunk the file; it just manages the context.
- ✗
It increases the speed of file operations.
Why it's wrong here
Performance is not significantly different.
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