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FC0-U71 Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are common…
Which TWO of the following are common characteristics of compiled programming languages?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse 'compiled every time the program runs' (Option E) with the actual compilation process, mistakenly thinking recompilation occurs at each execution, when in fact the executable is pre-built and reused.
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
✓
The resulting executable is platform-specific.
Option B is correct because a compiler produces a native executable (e.g., an ELF binary on Linux or a PE .exe on Windows) whose machine-code instructions and system calls target a specific CPU architecture and OS, so it is platform-specific. Option D is correct because compiled languages use a compiler to translate the entire source code into machine code (object files linked into an executable) before the program is executed, rather than at runtime. Option A is incorrect because line-by-line execution by an interpreter describes interpreted languages such as Python or JavaScript, not compiled ones. Option C is incorrect because compiled languages like C and C++ require variables to be declared before use so the compiler can allocate types and memory. Option E is incorrect because compilation happens once ahead of time, not on every run; recompiling each execution is characteristic of interpreted or JIT-based environments.
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 code is executed line-by-line by an interpreter.
Why it's wrong here
Executing code line-by-line describes interpreted languages such as Python or JavaScript, not compiled ones, which translate the entire source into machine code before execution. It is tempting because interpreted execution is a genuine language characteristic, and it would be the correct choice if the question instead asked about interpreted rather than compiled languages.
- ✓
The resulting executable is platform-specific.
Why this is correct
Compilation produces machine code bound to a specific instruction set and operating system, so the executable cannot run unchanged elsewhere without recompiling or emulation. This platform dependency is a defining trait distinguishing compiled languages from interpreted ones, which rely on a runtime interpreter.
- ✗
Variables do not need to be declared before use.
Why it's wrong here
Compiled languages are statically typed, requiring variables to be declared with a type before use so the compiler can check them. Implicit declaration without prior declaration is characteristic of dynamically typed interpreted languages such as Python.
- ✓
The source code is translated into machine code before execution.
Why this is correct
A compiler translates the entire source file into machine code ahead of execution, producing a standalone binary. This ahead-of-time translation, rather than line-by-line interpretation at runtime, is the mechanism that defines compiled languages and enables direct execution by the processor.
- ✗
The source code is compiled every time the program runs.
Why it's wrong here
Compilation occurs once, producing a standalone executable; recompiling on every run describes interpreted execution, where the interpreter translates source each time. It is tempting because interpreted languages do re-read source at runtime, and a just-in-time compiler also translates during execution — but neither matches the compiled-language characteristic the question seeks.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This FC0-U71 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 FC0-U71 exam.