This PCAP practice question tests your understanding of modules and packages. 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 developer is creating a Python package named 'utils' and wants to control what is imported when a user writes 'from utils import *'. Which file and variable should be defined?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Define __all__ = ['mod1', 'mod2'] in '__init__.py' of the 'utils' package.
Option B is correct because in Python, the `__all__` variable in the `__init__.py` file of a package explicitly defines the list of module names that are exported when a user writes `from utils import *`. This controls the public API of the package and prevents unintended internal modules from being imported.
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.
✗
Define __all__ as a function that returns the list of modules in '__init__.py'.
Why it's wrong here
__all__ is a list, not a function.
✓
Define __all__ = ['mod1', 'mod2'] in '__init__.py' of the 'utils' package.
Why this is correct
Standard practice to specify public modules.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Set the __all__ variable in the script that imports the package.
Why it's wrong here
This is not the purpose; __all__ is defined in the package/module itself.
✗
Define __all__ as a list of module objects in the main module 'utils.py'.
Why it's wrong here
It should be a list of module name strings, not objects; and typically in __init__.py.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Python Institute often tests the misconception that `__all__` can be defined in the importing script or as a function, or that it belongs in a separate module file rather than the package's `__init__.py`.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When Python encounters `from package import *`, it looks for the `__all__` variable in the package's `__init__.py`. If `__all__` is defined, only the names listed in that list are imported; if `__all__` is not defined, Python imports all names that do not start with an underscore. This mechanism is part of the import system defined in PEP 8 and PEP 302, and it is critical for maintaining clean public APIs in large projects like NumPy or Django.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
Modules and Packages — This question tests Modules and Packages — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Define __all__ = ['mod1', 'mod2'] in '__init__.py' of the 'utils' package. — Option B is correct because in Python, the `__all__` variable in the `__init__.py` file of a package explicitly defines the list of module names that are exported when a user writes `from utils import *`. This controls the public API of the package and prevents unintended internal modules from being imported.
What should I do if I get this PCAP 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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