Comprehensive Python Question Bank with Answers (Critical & Technical)

Q1: What are the key features that make Python a popular programming language?

A1: Python is popular due to its simplicity, readability, extensive libraries, dynamic typing, cross-platform
compatibility, and strong community support.

Q2: How does Python handle memory management, and what role does garbage collection play?

A2: Python manages memory through reference counting and garbage collection. The garbage collector
automatically reclaims unused objects to free memory.

Q3: What is the difference between dynamically and statically typed languages? Where does Python fall?
A3: In statically typed languages, variable types are declared explicitly, whereas dynamically typed
languages determine types at runtime. Python is dynamically typed.

Q4: What are the rules for naming variables in Python?

A4: Variable names must start with a letter or underscore, cannot start with a number, and cannot use
special characters or reserved keywords.

Q5: What happens when you try to use an invalid variable name? Provide an example.

A5: Using an invalid variable name results in a SyntaxError.

123var = 5 # Invalid

Output: SyntaxError: invalid syntax

Q6: Explain the difference between mutable and immutable data types in Python with examples.

A6: Mutable data types (lists, dictionaries) can be changed after creation, while immutable data types
(tuples, strings) cannot.

my_list = [1, 2, 3]

my_list[0] = 5 # Allowed (Mutable)

my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)

my_tuple[0] = 5 # Error (Immutable)

A7: Python automatically converts compatible types (implicit conversion), but explicit conversion
requires functions like int(), float(), and str().

x = 5 # int

y = 2.5 # float

z = x + y # Implicit conversion to float

s = "123"

s_int = int(s) # Explicit conversion

Q8: Explain the different types of operators available in Python.

A8: Python has arithmetic, comparison, logical, bitwise, assignment, identity, and membership
operators.

Q9: How does the floor division operator // differ from the regular division / operator?

A9: / returns a float, while // returns the quotient as an integer.

print(7 / 2) # 3.5

print(7 // 2) # 3

Q10: What is operator precedence? Provide an example where it affects the outcome of an expression.
A10: Operator precedence determines the order in which operations are performed.

result = 5 + 2 * 3

print(result) # 11 (Multiplication before addition)

Q11: How do if-elif-else statements work in Python?

A11: They evaluate conditions in order and execute the first true block.

x = 10
if x > 10:

print("Greater")

elif x == 10:

print("Equal")

else:

print("Smaller")

Q12: What is the difference between while and for loops? Provide a scenario where each is preferred.
A12: for loops iterate over sequences, while while loops run until a condition is false.

for i in range(5):

print(i) # Used for definite loops

x=0

while x < 5:

print(x)

x += 1 # Used for indefinite loops

Q15: What are the advantages of using functions in a Python program?

A15: Functions improve code reusability, readability, and modularity.

Q16: Explain the difference between positional arguments, keyword arguments, and default arguments.
A16:

• Positional: Based on order.

• Keyword: Specified by name.

• Default: Assigned a default value.

def greet(name, age=25):

print(f"Hello {name}, Age: {age}")

greet("Alice", 30) # Positional

greet("Charlie") # Default

Q17: What is the significance of *args and **kwargs in Python functions?

A17: *args handles multiple positional arguments, while **kwargs handles multiple keyword arguments.

def example(*args, **kwargs):

print(args, kwargs)

example(1, 2, 3, name="Alice", age=30)

Q23: What is the purpose of classes and objects in Python?

A23: Classes define blueprints for objects, while objects are instances of classes.

class Car:

def __init__(self, brand):

self.brand = brand

dream_car = Car("Tesla")

print(dream_car.brand)

Q24: Explain the difference between instance variables and class variables.

A24: Instance variables belong to an object, while class variables are shared among all objects.

Q25: What are the four principles of OOP, and how are they implemented in Python?

A25:

1. Encapsulation – Restricts direct access to object data.

2. Abstraction – Hides implementation details.

4. Polymorphism – Allows different classes to use the same interface.

Q28: Why is exception handling important in Python?

A28: It prevents program crashes by handling errors gracefully.

Q29: What is the difference between try-except and try-finally?

A29:

• try-except: Catches and handles errors.

• try-finally: Executes finally block regardless of errors.

Q32: How do you open a file in Python? What different modes are available?

A32:

with open("file.txt", "r") as f:

content = f.read()

Modes:

• r: Read

• w: Write

• a: Append

• rb: Read binary

Q36: What is the difference between shallow copy and deep copy in Python?

A36:

• Shallow copy copies references.

• Deep copy creates independent objects.

import copy
list1 = [[1, 2], [3, 4]]

list2 = copy.deepcopy(list1)

37 Question: What is a variable in Python? How do you assign a value to a variable?

Answer: A variable is a named container for storing data. Values are assigned using the equals sign (=).
For example: age = 25

38 Question: What are the rules for naming variables in Python?

Answer:

o No spaces; use underscores or capitalization (e.g., `my_name`, `myName`).

o Cannot start with a number.

o No special symbols except the underscore.

o Convention: start with lowercase.

39 Question: How do you display output in Python?

Answer: The print() function is used to display output to the console.

40 Question: What are the common data types in Python?

Answer: Integers (int), floating-point numbers (float), and strings (str).

41 Question: What is the difference between a list and a tuple?

Answer: Lists are mutable (changeable) and defined with square brackets []. Tuples are immutable
(unchangeable) and defined with parentheses ().

42 Question: How do you create a dictionary in Python, and how do you access values in it?

Answer: Dictionaries are created with curly braces {}, storing data as key-value pairs. Access values using
their keys.

43 Question: What is a function in Python, and how do you define one?

Answer: A function is a reusable block of code. Defined using the def keyword.

44 Question: Explain the difference between local and global variable scope.
Answer: Local variables are accessible only within the function they're defined in. Global variables are
accessible throughout the program.

45 Question: Name and describe the purpose of three arithmetic operators in Python.

Answer:

a. `+` (addition)

b. - (subtraction)

c. * (multiplication)

d. / (division)

e. % (modulus)

f. ** (exponent)

g. // (floor division)

46 Question: What are comparison operators used for? Give some examples.

Answer: Used to compare values. Examples: == (equal), != (not equal), > (greater than), < (less than).

47 Question: Explain how if, elif, and else statements work in Python.

Answer: Used for decision-making. if checks the first condition, elif checks subsequent conditions if the
previous if was false, and else executes if no conditions are true.

48 Question: What is the difference between a for loop and a while loop?

Answer: A for loop iterates a specific number of times, often over a sequence. A while loop repeats as
long as a condition is true.

49 Question: How do you access individual elements in a list and a tuple?

Answer: Using indexing, starting from 0. For example: my_list[0].

50 Question: How can you add new elements to a list? How can you remove elements?

Answer: Use append() or insert() to add. Use remove() or pop() to remove.

51 Question: What are some common operations you can perform on sets?
Answer: Adding elements, removing elements, checking for membership, finding unions, intersections,
etc.

52 Question: When would you use a dictionary in Python?

Answer: When you need to store and retrieve values based on unique keys.

53 Question: What is the purpose of the return statement in a Python function?

Answer: To send a value back to the caller of the function.

54 Question: How do you pass arguments to a function in Python?

Answer: List the arguments inside the parentheses when you call the function.

55 Question: Explain the concept of mutability in Python. Which of the data structures we
discussed are mutable, and which are immutable?

Answer: Mutability refers to whether the object's state can be modified after it is created. Lists and
dictionaries are mutable. Strings and tuples are immutable.

56 Question: What is list comprehension? How does it simplify code, and what are its advantages?

Answer: List comprehension is a concise way to create lists. It simplifies code by reducing the number of
lines and is often faster than traditional loops.

57 Question: When iterating over a set, can you rely on the order of elements? Why or why not?

Answer: No, sets are unordered, so you cannot make assumptions about the order in which elements
are visited.

58 Question: What is the purpose of the enumerate() function when used with data structures like
lists or sets?

Answer: enumerate() adds a counter to an iterable and returns it as an enumerate object, allowing you
to access both the index and the element.

59 Question: Explain the difference between the == operator and the is operator in Python.

Answer: The == operator checks if the values of two operands are equal. The is operator checks if two
operands refer to the same object in memory.
 60 Question: What are dictionary comprehensions, and how do they work? Provide an example.

Answer: Dictionary comprehensions are a concise way to create dictionaries. They use a similar syntax to
list comprehensions.

a. Example:

Python Code

nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

square_dict = {num: num**2 for num in nums}

print(square_dict)

61 Question: What is the significance of the if __name__ == "__main__": block in Python scripts?

Answer: It checks whether the script is being run directly or imported as a module. Code inside this
block will only execute when the script is run directly.

62 Question: Explain how you might handle potential errors or exceptions in your Python code
(e.g., using try and except blocks).

Answer: try and except blocks are used to catch and handle exceptions. The try block encloses the code
that might raise an exception. If an exception occurs, the code inside the except block is executed.

63 Question: In what scenarios would you choose a tuple over a list, and vice versa?

Answer: Use tuples when you have a collection of items that should not be modified (e.g., coordinates).
Use lists when you need to add, remove, or modify elements.

64 Question: How does the choice of data structure affect the efficiency of your Python code? Give
examples.

Answer:

a. Lists have fast appends but slow lookups.

b. Dictionaries have very fast lookups (by key).

c. Sets have fast membership tests.

Answer: Use functions to break code into logical, reusable parts, improving readability and
maintainability.

66 Question: How can you use Python's built-in functions and data structures to solve real-world
problems or perform data analysis tasks?

Answer:

a. Use dictionaries to count word frequencies.

b. Use lists to store and manipulate data.

c. Use sets to find unique items.

67 Question: Reflect on the concept of code readability. How do comments, meaningful variable
names, and well-structured functions contribute to writing readable code in Python?

Answer:

a. Comments explain the purpose of code.

b. Meaningful names make code self-explanatory.

c. Functions break code into logical units.