PCEP-30-02 Sample Questions

PCEP-30-02 Sample Questions & Answers

Checks your knowledge of branching and looping with conditional blocks, the single biggest weight, plus organizing code into functions, Python's built-in exception hierarchy, collecting data with lists, tuples and dictionaries, and core fundamentals like literals.

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Showing 10 of 20 free samples.

  1. Question 1Advanced

    Data Collections – Tuples, Dictionaries, Lists, and Strings · List comprehensions

    A data processing script needs to create a new list containing only the lengths of strings from an existing list, but only for strings that have more than 3 characters. Which of the following is the most 'Pythonic' way to achieve this using a single line of code?

    words = ['cat', 'window', 'defenestrate', 'dog']

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    Correct answer: A

    This list comprehension is the most concise and Pythonic solution. It iterates through the words list, applies a filter (if len(w) > 3), and then applies a transformation (len(w)) to each item that passes the filter, all in one readable line.

  2. Question 2Intermediate

    Computer Programming and Python Fundamentals · the accuracy of floating-point numbers

    True or False: In Python, the expression 0.1 + 0.2 == 0.3 evaluates to True.

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    Correct answer: B

    This statement is False. Due to the nature of binary floating-point representation, numbers like 0.1 and 0.2 cannot be stored with perfect precision. The result of 0.1 + 0.2 is a value extremely close to, but not exactly, 0.3. This is a fundamental concept in computer science regarding floating-point arithmetic.

  3. Question 3Beginner

    Computer Programming and Python Fundamentals · Boolean expressions

    A developer is writing a validation function that checks if a user's input is within a specific numerical range (inclusive). The function should return True if the number is between 50 and 100, inclusive. Which boolean expression correctly and most concisely implements this logic?

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    Correct answer: B

    Python supports chained comparisons, which allows for a more readable and mathematically intuitive way to check if a value falls within a range. This expression is equivalent to (50 <= number) and (number <= 100) and is the most concise and 'Pythonic' way to write the check.

  4. Question 4Beginner

    Control Flow – Conditional Blocks and Loops · Controlling loop execution with break and continue

    A script needs to iterate through a sequence of numbers from 0 to 9. During the iteration, it should print 'Found it!' and stop processing immediately when it encounters the number 7. For all other numbers before 7, it should just print the number itself. What is the expected output of a correctly written loop for this task?

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    Correct answer: B

    This is the correct output. The loop iterates from 0 up to 6, printing each number. When the loop variable becomes 7, the condition if number == 7 is met, 'Found it!' is printed, and the break statement terminates the loop before it can process any further numbers.

  5. Question 5Intermediate

    Data Collections – Tuples, Dictionaries, Lists, and Strings · Checking the existence of keys

    A Python dictionary is used to store user preferences. A function needs to retrieve the 'theme' preference. If the 'theme' key does not exist, the function should return 'light' without causing an error and without modifying the original dictionary. Which line of code achieves this safely?

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    Correct answer: C

    The .get() method is the correct and safest way to achieve this. It attempts to retrieve the value for the given key. If the key is not found, it returns the default value provided as the second argument ('light' in this case) instead of raising a KeyError. It does not modify the dictionary.

  6. Question 6Intermediate

    Functions and Exceptions · Name scopes, name hiding (shadowing), and the global keyword

    A junior developer is trying to understand variable scope in Python. They have written the following code. What will be the output when this script is executed?

    value = 100

def my_func():
value = 50
print(f"Inside function: {value}")

my_func()
print(f"Outside function: {value}")
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    Correct answer: B

    This is correct. The variable value defined outside the function has a global scope. Inside my_func, the line value = 50 creates a new local variable named value that exists only within the function's scope (this is called shadowing). This local variable does not affect the global variable of the same name. Therefore, 50 is printed inside the function, and the original global value of 100 is printed outside.

  7. Question 7IntermediateSelect 2

    Data Collections – Tuples, Dictionaries, Lists, and Strings · Collect and process data using lists

    A programmer needs to combine two lists into a single list. Which of the following methods will create a new list containing all elements from list1 followed by all elements from list2, without modifying the original lists? (Select TWO)

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    Correct answers: A, D

    The + operator, when used with lists, performs concatenation. It creates and returns a completely new list containing the elements of both operands, leaving the original lists unchanged.

    The iterable unpacking operator (*) can be used within a list literal to create a new list. *list1 unpacks all elements of list1, and *list2 unpacks all elements of list2, creating a new combined list without altering the originals.

  8. Question 8Advanced

    Functions and Exceptions · Recursion

    What is the output of the print() function in the following code snippet?

    def recursive_sum(n):
if n <= 1:
return 1
else:
return n + recursive_sum(n - 2)

print(recursive_sum(5))
    flowchart TD A(recursive_sum(5)) --> B{5 <= 1? No}; B --> C[return 5 + recursive_sum(3)]; C --> D(recursive_sum(3)); D --> E{3 <= 1? No}; E --> F[return 3 + recursive_sum(1)]; F --> G(recursive_sum(1)); G --> H{1 <= 1? Yes}; H --> I[return 1]; F -- 1 --> C; C -- 1+3=4 --> B; B -- 4+5=9 --> Z([Final Return: 9]);
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    Correct answer: B

    The function execution unfolds as follows:

    1. recursive_sum(5) is called. Since 5 > 1, it returns 5 + recursive_sum(3).
    2. recursive_sum(3) is called. Since 3 > 1, it returns 3 + recursive_sum(1).
    3. recursive_sum(1) is called. Since 1 <= 1, it returns 1 (the base case).
    4. The result 1 is returned to the recursive_sum(3) call, which computes 3 + 1 = 4.
    5. The result 4 is returned to the recursive_sum(5) call, which computes 5 + 4 = 9.
      The final result is 9.
  9. Question 9Beginner

    Computer Programming and Python Fundamentals · Perform Input/Output console operations

    A Python script needs to print a formatted string that includes a user's name and age. The desired output is: User: Alice, Age: 30. Given name = 'Alice' and age = 30, which of the following print statements will produce the exact output, including the spacing?

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    Correct answer: C

    Formatted string literals (f-strings) are the modern, recommended way to format strings in Python. They allow embedding expressions inside string literals using curly braces {}. This code is readable, concise, and produces the exact desired output.

  10. Question 10Intermediate

    Control Flow – Conditional Blocks and Loops · expanding loops with while-else and for-else

    Consider the following for-else loop. What is the final output of this code snippet?

    for i in range(5):
if i == 5:
break
else:
print("Loop completed without a break.")

print("Done.")
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    Correct answer: B

    The else block associated with a for loop executes if and only if the loop terminates naturally (i.e., it was not exited via a break statement). In this case, range(5) iterates from 0 to 4. The condition i == 5 is never met, so break is never called. The loop finishes its full course, triggering the else block. Finally, the statement after the loop is executed.

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