Python Programming Exam

Section 1: Theory Questions

1. What is Python?
oExplain Python’s key characteristics (e.g., interpreted, dynamically-typed,
scripting language).
o Provide examples of Python’s applications.
2. What are the differences between lists and dictionaries in Python?
o Explain their structures and use cases.
3. What is the purpose of indentation in Python?
o Why is it important, and what errors can occur if it’s used incorrectly?
4. Explain the difference between local and global variables in Python.
o Provide an example of each.
5. What is the purpose of a docstring in Python?
o Write an example of a function with a docstring.
6. What is the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) in Python?
o How does it affect threading and parallel execution?
7. What is recursion?
oExplain the difference between a base case and a recursive case.
8. What are the four principles of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)?
o Briefly explain each principle.

Section 2: Code Snippet Completion

1. Complete the following code to calculate the factorial of a number using

recursion:

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def factorial(n):
# Base case
if _______:
return _______
# Recursive case
else:
return _______
2. Complete the following code to create a class Rectangle with
attributes length and width, and a method area():
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class Rectangle:
def __init__(self, length, width):
self.length = _______
self.width = _______

def area(self):
return _______
3. Complete the following code to sort a list of numbers in ascending order
using the bubble sort algorithm:
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def bubble_sort(arr):
n = len(arr)
for i in range(n):
for j in range(0, n-i-1):
if _______:
arr[j], arr[j+1] = _______
return arr

Section 3: Code Dry Runs

1. What is the output of the following code?

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def mystery(x):
if x == 0:
return 1
else:
return x * mystery(x - 1)

print(mystery(4))
2. What is the output of the following code?
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data = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
result = [x * 2 for x in data if x % 2 == 0]
print(result)
3. What is the output of the following code?
python
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def func(a, b=5):

return a + b

print(func(3))
print(func(3, 7))

Section 4: Code Error Correction

1. Identify and fix the errors in the following code:

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def add_numbers(a, b)
return a + b

result = add_numbers(5, 10)

print(result)
2. Identify and fix the errors in the following code:
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numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
for i in range(len(numbers)):
print(numbers[i + 1])
3. Identify and fix the errors in the following code:
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class Car:
def __init__(self, make, model):
self.make = make
self.model = model

def display(self):
print(f"Car: {self.make} {self.model}")

my_car = Car("Toyota", "Corolla")

my_car.display()

Section 5: Problem-Solving

1. Write a Python function to check if a string is a palindrome.

o A palindrome reads the same backward as forward (e.g., "madam").
 2. Write a Python program to find the largest number in a list.
o Do not use the built-in max() function.
3. Write a Python program to count the frequency of each element in a list.
o Example:
Input: [1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3]
Output: {1: 1, 2: 2, 3: 3}
4. Write a Python program to implement a binary search algorithm.
o Assume the input list is already sorted.

Section 6: Advanced Topics

1. Explain the difference between threading and multiprocessing in Python.

o Provide an example use case for each.
2. Write a Python program to create two threads that print numbers from 1
to 10 concurrently.
o Use the threading module.
3. Write a Python program to demonstrate inheritance.
o Create a base class Animal and a child class Dog that inherits from Animal.

Answer Key

Section 1: Theory Questions

1. Python is an interpreted, dynamically-typed scripting language used for web

development, data analysis, AI, and more.
2. Lists are ordered collections, while dictionaries are key-value pairs.
3. Indentation defines code blocks in Python. Incorrect indentation leads
to IndentationError.
4. Local variables are defined inside a function, while global variables are defined
outside.
5. A docstring describes a function’s purpose. Example:
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def add(a, b):

"""Returns the sum of a and b."""
return a + b
6. GIL prevents multiple threads from executing Python bytecode simultaneously,
limiting threading performance.
 7. Recursion is a function calling itself. The base case stops recursion, while the
recursive case calls the function.
8. OOP principles: Encapsulation, Inheritance, Polymorphism, Abstraction.

Section 2: Code Snippet Completion

1. python

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def factorial(n):
if n == 0:
return 1
else:
return n * factorial(n - 1)
2. python

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class Rectangle:
def __init__(self, length, width):
self.length = length
self.width = width

def area(self):
return self.length * self.width
3. python

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def bubble_sort(arr):
n = len(arr)
for i in range(n):
for j in range(0, n-i-1):
if arr[j] > arr[j+1]:
arr[j], arr[j+1] = arr[j+1], arr[j]
return arr

Section 3: Code Dry Runs

1. Output: 24 (Factorial of 4).

2. Output: [4, 8].
3. Output: 8 and 10.

Section 4: Code Error Correction

1. Missing colon:

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def add_numbers(a, b):

return a + b
2. Index out of range:
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for i in range(len(numbers) - 1):

3. No errors.

Section 5: Problem-Solving

1. python

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def is_palindrome(s):
return s == s[::-1]
2. python

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def find_largest(arr):
largest = arr[0]
for num in arr:
if num > largest:
largest = num
return largest
3. python

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from collections import Counter

def count_frequency(arr):
return dict(Counter(arr))
4. python

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def binary_search(arr, target):

low, high = 0, len(arr) - 1
while low <= high:
mid = (low + high) // 2
if arr[mid] == target:
return mid
elif arr[mid] < target:
low = mid + 1
else:
high = mid - 1
 return -1

Section 6: Advanced Topics

1. Threading shares memory and is lightweight but limited by GIL.

Multiprocessing runs independently and allows true parallelism.
2. python

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import threading
def print_numbers():
for i in range(1, 11):
print(i)

t1 = threading.Thread(target=print_numbers)
t2 = threading.Thread(target=print_numbers)
t1.start()
t2.start()
3. python

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class Animal:
def __init__(self, name):
self.name = name

def speak(self):
pass

class Dog(Animal):
def speak(self):
return "Woof!"