The correct answer is that the program will print "Hello, " with no name. This happens because in BASIC, the INPUT statement reads whatever the user types as a string; when the user presses Enter without typing anything, the variable receives an empty string (""), and the program simply continues to the PRINT statement, which outputs "Hello, " followed by that empty string. On the CompTIA ITF+ FC0-U61 exam, this tests your understanding of empty input behavior programming—specifically, how different languages handle a lack of user input without any explicit validation or loop. A common trap is assuming the program will re-prompt or crash, but BASIC treats an empty entry as a valid string. Memory tip: think of an empty string as an invisible placeholder—it’s still there, just with nothing inside.
FC0-U61 Software Development Concepts Practice Question
This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of software development concepts. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```
10 PRINT "Enter your name:"
20 INPUT name$
30 IF name$ = "" THEN GOTO 10
40 PRINT "Hello, " + name$
50 END
```
Refer to the exhibit. A developer wrote this BASIC program. What will happen if the user presses Enter without typing a name?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The program will prompt for input again.
In BASIC, the INPUT statement reads a string from the user. If the user presses Enter without typing a name, the variable receives an empty string (""). The program then prints "Hello, " followed by that empty string, resulting in "Hello, " with no name. Option C is incorrect because the program does not loop or re-prompt; it simply continues with the empty string.
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.
✗
The program will print "Hello, " with no name.
Why it's wrong here
The IF statement prevents reaching line 40 if name$ is empty.
✗
The program will display an error message.
Why it's wrong here
No error handling is coded; the program just loops.
✓
The program will prompt for input again.
Why this is correct
The GOTO 10 sends execution back to the input prompt.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The program will end with no output.
Why it's wrong here
The program does not end; it loops back to line 10.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume an empty input causes an error or no output, but BASIC's INPUT statement treats an empty input as a valid empty string, so the program runs normally and prints "Hello, " with no name.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In BASIC, the INPUT statement reads a line of text from the user and assigns it to the variable. When the user presses Enter without typing anything, the input buffer contains only the newline character, and the variable is set to an empty string (length 0). This behavior is consistent across many BASIC dialects (e.g., GW-BASIC, QBasic) and is similar to how Python's input() returns an empty string when Enter is pressed alone. In real-world scenarios, this can lead to subtle bugs if the program expects a non-empty name but does not validate the input.
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 FC0-U61 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.
Software Development Concepts — This question tests Software Development Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The program will prompt for input again. — In BASIC, the INPUT statement reads a string from the user. If the user presses Enter without typing a name, the variable receives an empty string (""). The program then prints "Hello, " followed by that empty string, resulting in "Hello, " with no name. Option C is incorrect because the program does not loop or re-prompt; it simply continues with the empty string.
What should I do if I get this FC0-U61 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.
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Question Discussion
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