PCAP Object-Oriented Programming Practice Question
This PCAP practice question tests your understanding of object-oriented programming. 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.
Which TWO of the following statements about Python class inheritance are correct? (Select exactly two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A subclass can override a parent class method.
Option B is correct because Python allows a subclass to define a method with the same name as a method in its parent class, which overrides the parent's implementation. When the method is called on an instance of the subclass, Python's method resolution order (MRO) will find the subclass's version first, effectively hiding the parent's method.
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.
✗
If a subclass does not define __init__, it automatically inherits the parent's __init__.
Why it's wrong here
It does inherit the parent's __init__ if not defined.
✓
A subclass can override a parent class method.
Why this is correct
Method overriding is a key OOP feature.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A subclass cannot define methods with the same name as a parent class method.
Why it's wrong here
Subclasses can override methods.
✗
A subclass inherits all private attributes and methods from the parent class.
Why it's wrong here
Private attributes (name mangling) are accessible but not directly inherited in the same way; they are name-mangled.
✓
A class can inherit from multiple base classes.
Why this is correct
Python supports multiple inheritance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Python Institute often tests the misconception that private attributes (name-mangled with double underscore) are completely inaccessible from subclasses, but in reality they are only renamed and can still be accessed using the mangled name, so they are not truly private.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Python, method overriding relies on the C3 linearization algorithm for MRO, which determines the order in which base classes are searched when resolving methods. A common subtlety is that when overriding __init__, you must call super().__init__() to ensure the parent's initialization logic runs; otherwise, the parent's attributes may not be set, leading to AttributeError. In real-world frameworks like Django, overriding methods such as save() or clean() is essential for adding custom behavior while still leveraging the parent's implementation via super().
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 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
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.
Object-Oriented Programming — This question tests Object-Oriented Programming — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A subclass can override a parent class method. — Option B is correct because Python allows a subclass to define a method with the same name as a method in its parent class, which overrides the parent's implementation. When the method is called on an instance of the subclass, Python's method resolution order (MRO) will find the subclass's version first, effectively hiding the parent's method.
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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