This 1Z0-829 practice question tests your understanding of controlling program flow. 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.
Given the following switch statement:
```java
int x = 2;
switch (x) { default: System.out.print("default "); case 1: System.out.print("1 "); case 2: System.out.print("2 "); case 3: System.out.print("3 "); break; case 4: System.out.print("4 ");
}
```
What is the output?
2
Why wrong: Fall-through occurs to case 3.
2 3 4
Why wrong: Break in case 3 prevents fall-through to case 4.
2 3
Prints 2, then falls through to 3 and breaks.
default 1 2 3
Why wrong: Default only runs if no match; here case 2 matches.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
2 3
Option C is correct because the switch statement starts execution at the matching case (case 2) and then falls through to subsequent cases until a break statement is encountered. Since case 2 has no break, it prints "2 ", then falls through to case 3, prints "3 ", and the break terminates the switch. The default case is not executed because a matching case was found before it.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
2
Why it's wrong here
Fall-through occurs to case 3.
2 3 4
Why it's wrong here
Break in case 3 prevents fall-through to case 4.
2 3
Why this is correct
Prints 2, then falls through to 3 and breaks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
default 1 2 3
Why it's wrong here
Default only runs if no match; here case 2 matches.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often forget fall-through behavior or assume the default case always executes, leading them to pick options that include default or skip the break's effect on subsequent cases.
Detailed technical explanation
In Java, switch statements without break exhibit fall-through, where execution continues into the next case regardless of its label. The default case is optional and acts as a catch-all, but it only executes if no other case matches; it can be placed anywhere but does not affect fall-through order. This behavior is crucial in scenarios like menu-driven programs where multiple cases share logic, but forgetting break is a common source of bugs.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Controlling Program Flow — This question tests Controlling Program Flow — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 2 3 — Option C is correct because the switch statement starts execution at the matching case (case 2) and then falls through to subsequent cases until a break statement is encountered. Since case 2 has no break, it prints "2 ", then falls through to case 3, prints "3 ", and the break terminates the switch. The default case is not executed because a matching case was found before it.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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