PCPP2 Design Patterns Practice Question
In the Chain of Responsibility pattern, how does a handler decide whether to pass a request to the next handler?
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
✓
By calling the next handler's handle method only if it cannot fulfill the request
Each handler evaluates if it can process the request; if not, it calls the successor in the chain.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
By querying the client for the next handler
Why it's wrong here
This violates the decoupling principle of the chain.
- ✓
By calling the next handler's handle method only if it cannot fulfill the request
Why this is correct
The handler checks its own criteria and delegates if necessary.
- ✗
By using an exception to jump to the next handler
Why it's wrong here
Exceptions are for error handling, not control flow in chains.
- ✗
By returning True from a base handler method
Why it's wrong here
Return values generally do not manage the chain delegation logic.
About these practice questions
One of 194 original PCPP2 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Python Institute exam blueprint
This PCPP2 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 PCPP2 exam.