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 will be the output of the following code?
try:
print(1/0)
except:
print('error')else:
print('no error')finally:
print('done')no error\ndone
Why wrong: else does not run because exception occurred.
error\nno error\ndone
Why wrong: else and except are mutually exclusive.
done
Why wrong: The except block executes and prints 'error'.
error\ndone
Correct: exception caught, else skipped, finally executed.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
error\ndone
Option D is correct because the code raises a ZeroDivisionError when attempting 1/0, which is caught by the bare except clause, printing 'error'. The else clause is skipped because an exception occurred. The finally clause always executes, printing 'done'. Thus the output is 'error' followed by 'done'.
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.
no error\ndone
Why it's wrong here
else does not run because exception occurred.
error\nno error\ndone
Why it's wrong here
else and except are mutually exclusive.
done
Why it's wrong here
The except block executes and prints 'error'.
error\ndone
Why this is correct
Correct: exception caught, else skipped, finally executed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Python Institute often tests the order of execution in try/except/else/finally, specifically that the else block is skipped when an exception occurs, and that finally always runs, leading candidates to mistakenly include 'no error' or omit 'error'.
Detailed technical explanation
In Python, the try/except/else/finally construct ensures that the else block runs only if no exception was raised in the try block. The finally block is guaranteed to execute regardless of exceptions, even if a return, break, or continue statement is encountered. This is critical for resource cleanup (e.g., closing files or network connections) in real-world applications.
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: error\ndone — Option D is correct because the code raises a ZeroDivisionError when attempting 1/0, which is caught by the bare except clause, printing 'error'. The else clause is skipped because an exception occurred. The finally clause always executes, printing 'done'. Thus the output is 'error' followed by 'done'.
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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