This PCAP practice question tests your understanding of exceptions and file i/o. 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.
What is the output of the following code?
try:
print(1/0)
except:
print('err')finally:
print('fin')fin err
Why wrong: The order is incorrect; except runs first.
fin
Why wrong: The except block also prints.
err fin
Exception triggers except, then finally runs.
err
Why wrong: The finally block also prints.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
err fin
Option C is correct because when a division by zero occurs, Python raises a ZeroDivisionError, which is caught by the bare except clause, printing 'err'. The finally clause always executes after the except block, printing 'fin'. Thus the output is 'err' followed by 'fin'.
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.
fin err
Why it's wrong here
The order is incorrect; except runs first.
fin
Why it's wrong here
The except block also prints.
err fin
Why this is correct
Exception triggers except, then finally runs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
err
Why it's wrong here
The finally block also prints.
Common exam traps
Python Institute often tests the order of execution in try/except/finally blocks, specifically that the except block runs before the finally block when an exception is caught, and that the finally block always executes even if no exception occurs.
Detailed technical explanation
In Python, the try/except/finally construct ensures that the finally block is executed even if an exception is raised and not caught, or if a return, break, or continue statement is encountered in the try or except blocks. The bare except clause catches all exceptions, including SystemExit and KeyboardInterrupt, which is generally discouraged in production code. In real-world scenarios, this pattern is used for resource cleanup (e.g., closing files or network connections) that must happen regardless of errors.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
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FAQ
Exceptions and File I/O — This question tests Exceptions and File I/O — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: err fin — Option C is correct because when a division by zero occurs, Python raises a ZeroDivisionError, which is caught by the bare except clause, printing 'err'. The finally clause always executes after the except block, printing 'fin'. Thus the output is 'err' followed by 'fin'.
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 30, 2026
This PCAP practice question is part of Courseiva's free Python Institute 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 PCAP exam.
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