Programming Fundamentals
str
A Python data type that holds a string of characters
int
A Python data type that holds positive and negative whole numbers
float
A Python data type which stores floating-point numbers
expression
A combination of variables, operators, and values that represents a single result value
stack diagram
A graphical representation of functions, their variables, and the values to which they refer
variable name
A name given to a variable
variable
A name that refers to a value
value
A number or string (or other things to be named later) that can be stored in a variable or computed in an expression
source code
A program in a high-level language before being compiled
script
A program stored in a file (usually one that will be interpreted)
high-level language
A programming language like Python that is designed to be easy for humans to read and write
low-level language
A programming language that is designed to be easy for a computer to execute; also called machine language or assembly language
portability
A property of a program that can run on more than one kind of computer
keyword
A reserved word that is used by the compiler to parse programs
data type
A set of values
operator
A special symbol that represents a simple computation like addition, multiplication, or string concatenation
assignment statement
A statement that assigns a value to a name (variable)
function call
A statement that executes a function. It consists of the name of the function followed by a list of arguments enclosed in parentheses
local variable
A variable defined inside a function that can only be used inside its function
semantic error
An error in a program that makes it do something other than what the programmer intended
syntax error
An error in a program that makes it impossible to parse — and therefore impossible to interpret
runtime error
An error that does not occur until the program has started to execute but that prevents the program from continuing
print statement
An instruction that causes the Python interpreter to display a value on the screen
statement
An instruction that the Python interpreter can execute
python shell
An interactive user interface to the Python interpreter
byte code
An intermediate language between source code and object code
integer division
An operation that divides one integer by another and yields an integer
executable
Another name for object code that is ready to be executed
formal language
Any one of the languages that people have designed for specific purposes, such as representing mathematical ideas or computer programs; all programming languages are this kind of languages
natural language
Any one of the languages that people speak that evolved naturally
An advantage of Pseudo code is that it is a visual technique.
False
Fortran language was designed to process business transactions
False
One of the advantages of a function is that it allows the programmer to alter the flow of execution in the program.
False
One of the advantages of flowcharts is that it is hard to modify.
False
Perl, Python, and PHP are all compiled languages
False
Portability means the program is written in small chunks of code.
False
Pseudo code should contain the exact same statements as the programming language that will be used.
False
The C language was developed at Bell Labs with the objective of being the first object oriented language
False
The graphical representation of a stack of functions, their variables, and the values to which they refer is called a traceback?
False
The use of arrows in flowcharts is optional because the flow direction is obvious.
False
Variable names are not case sensitive.
False
comment
Information in a program that is meant for other programmers (or anyone reading the source code) and has no effect on the execution of the program
token
One of the basic elements of the syntactic structure of a program, analogous to a word in a natural language
operand
One of the values on which an operator operates
composition
The ability to combine simple expressions and statements into compound statements and expressions in order to represent complex computations concisely
header
The first part of a compound statement, begins with a keyword and ends with a colon
flow of execution
The order in which statements are executed during a program run
object code
The output of the compiler after it translates the program
debugging
The process of finding and removing any of the three kinds of programming errors
problem solving
The process of formulating a problem, finding a solution, and expressing the solution
rules of precedence
The set of rules governing the order in which expressions involving multiple operators and operands are evaluated
parse
To examine a program and analyse the syntactic structure
interpret
To execute a program in a high-level language by translating it one line at a time
concatenate
To join two strings end-to-end
evaluate
To simplify an expression by performing the operations in order to yield a single value
compile
To translate a program written in a high-level language into a low-level language all at once, in preparation for later execution
A flowchart with more than 15 symbols is considered poor form.
True
A local variable is a variable defined inside a function that can only be used inside its function.
True
A program is a sequence of instructions that specifies how to perform a computation.
True
A script usually contains a sequence of statements. If there is more than one statement, the results appear one at a time as the statements execute.
True
A stack diagram shows the value of each variable and the function to which each variable belongs.
True
An advantage of Pseudo code is that it requires no special tools and can easily be written on a word processor.
True
An expression is a combination of values, variables, and operators. If you type an expression on the command line, the interpreter evaluates it and displays the result.
True
As programs get bigger and more complicated, they get more difficult to read. This is why programmers should use Comments in their code.
True
Every flowchart must have a START and STOP symbol.
True
In a script, an expression all by itself is a legal statement, but it doesn't do anything.
True
One of the advantages of pseudo code is that it implements structured concepts well.
True
Programmers generally choose names for their variables that are meaningful and document what the variable is used for.
True
Pseudo code is a newer tool and has features that make it more reflective of the structured concepts.
True
The COBOL language was designed to solve business problems and was adapted to processing business transactions
True
The acronym PEMDAS is a useful way to remember the order of operations in Python.
True
algorithm
a general process for solving a category of problems
program
a sequence of instructions that specifies to a computer actions and computations to be performed
What will the output of this program be when it is executed? def test_function( length, width, height): print ("the area of the box is ", length*width*height) return length*width*height l = 12.5 w = 5 h = 2 test_function(l, w, h) print ("The area of the box is ", length*width*height) a. A NameError because a variable not defined b. The area of the box is 125.0 c. The area of the box is 0 d. A SyntaxError due to illegal function call
a. A NameError because a variable not defined
The concept of a computer 'bug' was first attributed to ______ who found a moth stuck in a relay that caused a failure in a computer at Harvard University. The term 'debugging' has since come to mean correcting errors in a computer or computer program. a. Grace Murray Hopper b. John von Neumann c. Charles Babbage d. Konrad Zuse
a. Grace Murray Hopper
bug
an error in a program
exception
another name for a runtime error
What output will the following python command produce: >>> percentage = ( 60 * 100) // 55 >>> print (percentage) a. Percentage b. 109 c. 109. 0909090909091 d. 109.0
b. 109
What output will the following python commands produce: >>> print (2*3-1) a. 6 b. 5 c. 4 d. 3
b. 5
What output will the following python commands produce: >>> print ((1+1)**(5-2)) a. 16 b. 8 c. 4 d. 2
b. 8
What output will the following Python script produce? def function2(param): print (param, param) def function1(part1, part2): cat = part1 + part2 function2(cat) chant1 = "See You " chant2 = "See Me " function1(chant1, chant2) a. See You See Me b. See You See Me See You See Me c. See Me See Me See You See You d. None it would generate an error
b. See You See Me See You See Me
What will the output of this python program be? def test_function( length, width, height): print ("the area of the box is ",length*width*height) return length*width*height l = 12.5 w = 5 h = 2 test_function(l, w, h) a. The area of the box is 125 b. The area of the box is 125.0 c. The area of the box is 120 d. 125.0
b. The area of the box is 125.0
The three kinds or errors that can occur in a program are_______________ a. algorithms, debugging, iterations b. syntax, runtime, semantic c. looping, spelling, conditional d. scripting, command line, interpreter
b. syntax, runtime, semantic
During the 1990's, a major influence on programming languages was____________________ a. consolidation, modules performance b. the internet c. fundamental paradigms d. formula translation
b. the Internet
What output will the following python command produce: >>> print (1,000,000) a. 1,000 b. 1,000,000 c. 1 0 0 d. Error invalid type
c. 1 0 0
What output will the following python command produce: percentage = ( 60.0 * 100.0 ) / 55.0 print (percentage) a. Percentage b. 109 c. 109. 0909090909091 d. 109.0
c. 109.0909090909091
What output will the following python commands produce: >>> print (2 * (3-1)) a. 6 b. 5 c. 4 d. 3
c. 4
Which of the following is NOT one of the computer languages developed in the 1950s a. COBOL b. Fortran c. BASIC (Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) d. LISP
c. BASIC
A popular computer language developed by Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson at Bell Labs in the 70's is: a. APL b. BASIC c. C d. PL/1
c. C
The BASIC language was developed by John G. Kemeny at which school: a. Harvard University b. Stanford University c. Dartmouth College d. Carnegie Mellon University
c. Dartmouth College
Which of the following is NOT a programming language. a. Java b. C c. Kuntz d. Ruby
c. Kuntz
Using keywords for variable names will result in a ________________ a. Runtime error b. Compile error c. Syntax error d. Semantic error
c. Syntax error
Python is considered to be _______________ a. a database language b. a formula translation language c. an internet language d. a business oriented language
c. an internet language
What output will the following python commands produce: >>> n = 17 >>> print (n) a. (n) b. 17.0 c. n d. 17
d. 17
What will the output of the following program be? i=0 while (i < max(1, 22-4*5, 3*5-3*4, 2**2)): i+= 1 print (i) a. 0 b. 5 c. 3 d. 4
d. 4
Which of the following is NOT one of the rules for pseudo code: a. Indent to show hierarchy b. Keep statements language independent c. Write only one statement per line d. Capitalize every word
d. Capitalize every word
What does the import statement in the following script do? import StringIO output = StringIO.StringIO() output.write('First line.\n') output.close() a. It imports data into the script b. It changes the format of the string in the script c. It opens a file for StringIO functions to read d. It includes a Python module called StringIO into the script
d. It includes a Python module called StringIO into the script
What will the output of the following code be? def recursive( depth ): depth+=1 while (depth < 5): ret = recursive(depth) return depth ret = recursive( 0 ) print ("the recursive depth is ", ret) a. The recursive depth is 5 b. The recursive depth is 4 c. Error due to depth of recursive calls d. None
d. None
semantics
the meaning of a program
syntax
the structure of a program
