Free PCAP™ – Certified Associate Python Programmer Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the PCAP™ – Certified Associate Python Programmer practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A Python program runs `import sound.effects.echo` successfully. Which expression refers to the imported module using the name made available by that statement?

   1. A.`sound.effects.echo`Correct answer: A
   2. B.`effects.echo`
   3. C.`echo`
   4. D.`sound.echo`

   Explanation: The tutorial states: "This loads the submodule sound.effects.echo. It must be referenced with its full name." The statement binds the top-level package name, so the full path is used.

   Reference: The Python Tutorial: Modules — 6.4. Packages

2. 2When an exception is raised in a `try` suite, in what order does Python search the corresponding `except` clauses?

   1. A.In the order they appearCorrect answer: A
   2. B.From the last clause to the first
   3. C.From the most specific class to the least specific class
   4. D.In alphabetical order by exception name

   Explanation: The reference states: "This search inspects the except clauses in turn until one is found that matches the exception." Python stops at the first matching handler.

   Reference: The Python Language Reference: Compound statements — 8.4. The try statement

3. 3What does the notation `U+265E` identify in Unicode?

   1. A.A Unicode code pointCorrect answer: A
   2. B.A UTF-8 byte sequence
   3. C.A font-rendered glyph
   4. D.A Unicode character name

   Explanation: The documentation states: "U+265E is a code point, which represents some particular character;" The number identifies a code point, independently of its encoded bytes.

   Reference: Python Unicode HOWTO — Definitions

4. 4In Python's object-oriented model, what is a class?

   1. A.A template for creating user-defined objectsCorrect answer: A
   2. B.One particular instance created from a template
   3. C.A stored value belonging to one instance
   4. D.A bound method belonging to one instance

   Explanation: The glossary defines a class as "A template for creating user-defined objects." Its instances are the objects created from that template.

   Reference: Python Glossary — class

5. 5What is `[x * 2 for x in [1, 2, 3]]`?

   1. A.`[2, 4, 6]`Correct answer: A
   2. B.`[1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3]`
   3. C.`[1, 4, 9]`
   4. D.`[2, 3, 4]`

   Explanation: The tutorial states: "each element is the result of some operations applied to each member of another sequence or iterable" The expression doubles each input value.

   Reference: The Python Tutorial: Data Structures — 5.1.3. List Comprehensions

6. 6After `import foo.bar.baz as fbb` succeeds, which name directly refers to the imported `foo.bar.baz` module in the importing namespace?

   1. A.`foo`
   2. B.`bar`
   3. C.`fbb`Correct answer: C
   4. D.`baz`

   Explanation: The language reference gives the example "import foo.bar.baz as fbb # foo, foo.bar, and foo.bar.baz imported, foo.bar.baz bound as fbb". The alias is bound to the requested module.

   Reference: The Python Language Reference: Simple statements — 7.11. The import statement

7. 7Where must a bare `except:` clause appear among the handlers of a `try` statement?

   1. A.Before all named handlers
   2. B.After all named handlersCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Immediately before `else` only when there is no `finally`
   4. D.It can appear in any handler position

   Explanation: The reference states: "An expression-less except clause, if present, must be last; it matches any exception." A bare clause matches any exception and must be last.

   Reference: The Python Language Reference: Compound statements — 8.4. The try statement

8. 8What is the relationship between ASCII text and UTF-8?

   1. A.Every ASCII text string is valid UTF-8 text.Correct answer: A
   2. B.ASCII text must always be converted to two-byte UTF-8 units.
   3. C.ASCII and UTF-8 use disjoint code points.
   4. D.Only ASCII digits are valid UTF-8 text.

   Explanation: The documentation states: "A string of ASCII text is also valid UTF-8 text." ASCII byte sequences are valid UTF-8 sequences.

   Reference: Python Unicode HOWTO — Encodings

9. 9An account object has a balance attribute and methods for deposit, withdrawal, and display. Which component represents its stored state?

   1. A.The balance attributeCorrect answer: A
   2. B.The deposit method
   3. C.The withdrawal method
   4. D.The display method

   Explanation: The tutorial states: "Each class instance can have attributes attached to it for maintaining its state." A data attribute can represent the object's state.

   Reference: The Python Tutorial: Classes — 9. Classes

10. 10What is `[x for x in [1, 2, 3, 4] if x % 2 == 0]`?

    1. A.`[2, 4]`Correct answer: A
    2. B.`[1, 3]`
    3. C.`[True, False, True, False]`
    4. D.`[1, 2, 3, 4]`

    Explanation: The tutorial states: "create a subsequence of those elements that satisfy a certain condition." Only the even values satisfy the filter.

    Reference: The Python Tutorial: Data Structures — 5.1.3. List Comprehensions