PCPP1 Advanced Object Oriented Programming Practice Question
You are implementing a Singleton pattern using the __new__ method. Why is it considered best practice to also define a __call__ method in the metaclass or use a decorator instead of just overriding __new__ in the base class?
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
✓
It prevents the creation of multiple instances during the unpickling process.
Overriding __new__ in a base class can lead to issues with pickling and deserialization, as __new__ is called every time an object is unpickled, potentially creating multiple instances.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
It prevents the creation of multiple instances during the unpickling process.
Why this is correct
Using a metaclass or a decorator ensures that the instance returned during deserialization is the same one already created, maintaining the Singleton property.
- ✗
The __new__ method cannot accept variable arguments in Python 3.
Why it's wrong here
The __new__ method perfectly handles *args and **kwargs.
- ✗
The __new__ method is reserved for static methods only.
Why it's wrong here
__new__ is a class method implicitly.
- ✗
It is required for thread-safe access to the instance variable.
Why it's wrong here
Thread safety in Singletons usually requires locking mechanisms regardless of the instantiation pattern.
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Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Python Institute exam blueprint
This PCPP1 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 PCPP1 exam.