This PCEP practice question tests your understanding of control flow, loops, lists and logic. 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.
Refer to the exhibit.
nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
for n in nums:
if n == 3:
break
print(n)
else:
print('Done')What is the output of the code?
Refer to the exhibit.
nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
for n in nums:
if n == 3:
break
print(n)
else:
print('Done')1 2
Correct: prints 1, then 2, then loop ends.
1 2 3 Done
Why wrong: Neither 3 nor Done are printed.
1 2 Done
Why wrong: Else clause does not execute because break occurred.
1 2 3
Why wrong: break occurs before printing 3.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
1 2
The code uses a `for` loop with `range(1, 4)` which generates the sequence 1, 2, 3. Inside the loop, `if i == 3: break` causes the loop to terminate when `i` equals 3, so the loop only prints 1 and 2 before breaking. After the loop, `print('Done')` is executed because it is outside the loop, so the output is 1, 2, and Done on separate lines.
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.
1 2
Why this is correct
Correct: prints 1, then 2, then loop ends.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
1 2 3 Done
Why it's wrong here
Neither 3 nor Done are printed.
1 2 Done
Why it's wrong here
Else clause does not execute because break occurred.
1 2 3
Why it's wrong here
break occurs before printing 3.
Common exam traps
Python Institute often tests the distinction between `break` and `continue`, and the trap here is that candidates forget that `break` exits the loop entirely, not just the current iteration, leading them to incorrectly include the value that triggered the break in the output.
Detailed technical explanation
The `break` statement immediately exits the innermost enclosing loop, skipping any remaining iterations. In Python, `range(1, 4)` produces an iterable that yields values 1, 2, 3; when `i` becomes 3, the condition `i == 3` is true, `break` executes, and control jumps to the first statement after the loop block. This is a common pattern for early termination in loops, such as searching for an item in a list and stopping once found.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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FAQ
Control Flow, Loops, Lists and Logic — This question tests Control Flow, Loops, Lists and Logic — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 1 2 — The code uses a `for` loop with `range(1, 4)` which generates the sequence 1, 2, 3. Inside the loop, `if i == 3: break` causes the loop to terminate when `i` equals 3, so the loop only prints 1 and 2 before breaking. After the loop, `print('Done')` is executed because it is outside the loop, so the output is 1, 2, and Done on separate lines.
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 PCEP 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 PCEP exam.
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