- A
def fetch_devices(**endpoints, *options):
Why wrong: **endpoints must come after *options; syntax error.
- B
def fetch_devices(endpoints, **options):
Why wrong: endpoints is a single list parameter, not variable args.
- C
def fetch_devices(*endpoints, **options):
Correct syntax: * for variable positional args, ** for keyword args.
- D
def fetch_devices(*endpoints, options):
Why wrong: options is a regular parameter, not keyword args.
Question 167 of 1,000
200-901 Software Development and Design Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of software development and design. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
A Python function is designed to fetch device data from multiple sources. It uses *args to accept variable number of API endpoints and **kwargs for optional parameters like timeout. Which function definition correctly implements this?
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
✓
def fetch_devices(*endpoints, **options):
Option C is correct because it uses *endpoints to accept a variable number of positional arguments (the API endpoint strings) and **options to accept any number of keyword arguments (like timeout=30). This matches the requirement for a function that can handle multiple sources with optional parameters, following Python's standard *args/**kwargs pattern.
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.
- ✗
def fetch_devices(**endpoints, *options):
Why it's wrong here
**endpoints must come after *options; syntax error.
- ✗
def fetch_devices(endpoints, **options):
Why it's wrong here
endpoints is a single list parameter, not variable args.
- ✓
def fetch_devices(*endpoints, **options):
Why this is correct
Correct syntax: * for variable positional args, ** for keyword args.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
def fetch_devices(*endpoints, options):
Why it's wrong here
options is a regular parameter, not keyword args.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between *args (variable positional arguments) and **kwargs (variable keyword arguments), and the trap here is that candidates confuse the syntax or order, thinking **endpoints can appear before *options or that a simple parameter name like options can accept keyword arguments without the double asterisk.
Trap categories for this question
Keyword trap
options is a regular parameter, not keyword args.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Python's *args collects extra positional arguments into a tuple, while **kwargs collects extra keyword arguments into a dictionary. This pattern is essential when designing functions that interact with REST APIs where the number of endpoints may vary (e.g., fetching from /devices, /interfaces, /routing) and optional parameters like timeout or retries need to be passed without cluttering the function signature. A real-world scenario is a network automation script that queries multiple devices in parallel, where each endpoint might require different timeout values.
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 practitioner preparing for the 200-901 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-901 question test?
Software Development and Design — This question tests Software Development and Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: def fetch_devices(*endpoints, **options): — Option C is correct because it uses *endpoints to accept a variable number of positional arguments (the API endpoint strings) and **options to accept any number of keyword arguments (like timeout=30). This matches the requirement for a function that can handle multiple sources with optional parameters, following Python's standard *args/**kwargs pattern.
What should I do if I get this 200-901 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 200-901 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-901 exam.
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