PCEP Computer Programming and Python Fundamentals Practice Question
A developer writes:
try:
x = int('hello') except ValueError: x = 0 except TypeError: x = -1 finally: x = x + 1 What is the final value of x?
⚠ Common exam trap
The PCEP exam often tests the misconception that the finally block does not execute when an exception is caught, or that the exception type might be misidentified, leading candidates to pick the value from an unexecuted except clause.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
1
The code attempts to convert the string 'hello' to an integer, which raises a ValueError. The except ValueError block catches this and sets x = 0. The finally block always executes, adding 1 to x, so x becomes 1. The TypeError except is never triggered because the error is a ValueError, not a TypeError.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
0
Why it's wrong here
The ValueError handler sets x to 0, then finally executes x = x + 1, overwriting it with 1. Choosing 0 ignores the finally block, which always runs regardless of whether an exception was caught. The TypeError handler never fires because int('hello') raises ValueError, not TypeError.
- ✓
1
Why this is correct
Converting `'hello'` raises `ValueError`, so the handler sets x to 0. The `TypeError` clause never executes. The `finally` block always runs, adding 1, giving x = 1. This satisfies the stem's requirement to trace exception handling and finalisation order precisely.
- ✗
-1
Why it's wrong here
The TypeError handler never executes, since int('hello') raises ValueError, so x is set to 0 by the matching handler. The finally block then increments it to 1. Selecting -1 assumes the wrong exception type is raised, which misreads how Python matches except clauses.
- ✗
2
Why it's wrong here
The ValueError handler assigns 0, and finally adds 1, giving 1. Reaching 2 would require the finally block to run twice or an initial value of 1, neither of which occurs. The TypeError handler is skipped because int('hello') raises ValueError.
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