Tricky Python MCQs
Q1: What will be the output?
def modify_list(a, b=[]):
b.append(a)
return b
print(modify_list(1))
print(modify_list(2))
Answer: B
Explanation: Default list is shared across calls.
Q2: Decorator with Side Effect
def repeat_twice(func):
def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
func(*args, **kwargs)
return func(*args, **kwargs)
return wrapper
@repeat_twice
def say_hello():
print("Hello")
result = say_hello()
print(result)
Answer: B
Explanation: Prints twice, but print() returns None.
Q3: Generator Exhaustion
def numbers():
for i in range(3):
yield i
gen = numbers()
print(list(gen))
print(list(gen))
Answer: B
Explanation: Generator is exhausted after first full iteration.
Q4: Positional vs Keyword Arguments
def greet(name, msg="Hello"):
return f"{msg}, {name}!"
print(greet("Alice"))
print(greet("Bob", msg="Hi"))
Answer: A
Explanation: Uses default unless explicitly passed.
Q5: List Comprehension with Side Effect
data = [1, 2, 3]
squares = [data.append(x * x) for x in data]
print(data)
Answer: C
Explanation: Appending during iteration leads to infinite loop.
Q6: Decorator on a Function Returning a Function
def outer():
def inner():
return "Inner function"
return inner
def deco(fn):
def wrapper():
return "Wrapped: " + fn()
return wrapper
wrapped = deco(outer())
print(wrapped())
Answer: B
Explanation: outer() returns inner, which is wrapped.
Q7: Generator Expression Evaluation
nums = [1, 2, 3]
gen = (x * 2 for x in nums)
nums.append(4)
print(list(gen))
Answer: B
Explanation: Generator is lazy; sees updated list.
Q8: Argument Unpacking in Function Calls
def add(a, b, c):
return a + b + c
args = [1, 2, 3]
print(add(*args))
Answer: A
Explanation: *args unpacks the list into arguments.
Q9: Mutable Default Arguments Trap
def add_to_list(value, my_list=[]):
my_list.append(value)
return my_list
print(add_to_list(1))
print(add_to_list(2))
print(add_to_list(3, []))
Answer: B
Explanation: Shared list unless new one provided.
Q10: Decorator Without `@`
def shout(func):
def wrapper():
return func().upper()
return wrapper
def say_hello():
return "hello"
say_hello = shout(say_hello)
print(say_hello())
Answer: B
Explanation: Function manually wrapped.
Q11: Nested Generator Consumption
def outer():
yield from inner()
def inner():
yield 1
yield 2
print(list(outer()))
Answer: A
Explanation: yield from delegates to inner generator.
Q12: List Slice Side Effects
lst = [1, 2, 3, 4]
sub = lst[:]
sub[0] = 99
print(lst)
Answer: B
Explanation: lst[:] creates a shallow copy.
Q13: Function Scope and Global
x = 10
def change():
x = 20
change()
print(x)
Answer: B
Explanation: x = 20 is local to the function.
