PCEP Control Flow, Loops, Lists and Logic Practice Question
Which two of the following statements about Python lists are true?
⚠ Common exam trap
Python Institute often tests the misconception that lists are immutable (confusing them with tuples) or that append() inserts at the beginning (confusing it with insert(0, ...)), and candidates may also incorrectly assume lists are homogeneous like arrays in some other languages.
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
✓
List elements can be accessed using negative indices.
Python lists support negative indexing, where -1 refers to the last element, -2 to the second last, and so on. This allows convenient access to elements from the end of the list without needing to calculate the length.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Lists are immutable.
Why it's wrong here
Lists are mutable; elements can be changed.
- ✓
List elements can be accessed using negative indices.
Why this is correct
Negative indices start from -1 for the last element.
- ✗
The append() method inserts an element at the beginning of the list.
Why it's wrong here
append() adds an element to the end of the list.
- ✓
The len() function returns the number of elements in a list.
Why this is correct
len() returns the count of elements.
- ✗
Lists can only contain elements of the same data type.
Why it's wrong here
Lists are heterogeneous; they can hold different types.
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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.