CSM Quality Assurance & Testing Practices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which testing technique derives test cases from the specification without examining internal code structure?
- White-box testing
- Black-box testing (Correct answer)
- Gray-box testing
- Mutation testing
Correct answer: Black-box testing
Black-box testing treats the system as an opaque unit, deriving tests solely from requirements and specifications.
Question 2: A software team notices defects cluster in a small set of modules. Which quality principle does this illustrate?
- Defect clustering (Correct answer)
- Pesticide paradox
- Testing exhaustion
- Error absence fallacy
Correct answer: Defect clustering
Defect clustering is a testing principle stating that a small number of modules tend to contain the majority of defects.
Question 3: What is the PRIMARY purpose of a test plan in a software project?
- To document all discovered defects
- To define the scope, approach, resources, and schedule of testing (Correct answer)
- To specify the exact test cases to be executed
- To record the results of regression testing
Correct answer: To define the scope, approach, resources, and schedule of testing
A test plan outlines the overall testing strategy including scope, objectives, resources, schedule, and approach.
Question 4: Which type of testing evaluates how the system behaves under peak load conditions?
- Stress testing (Correct answer)
- Unit testing
- Smoke testing
- Acceptance testing
Correct answer: Stress testing
Stress testing pushes a system beyond its normal operating limits to evaluate behavior under extreme conditions.
Question 5: In equivalence partitioning, what is a valid equivalence class for a field accepting values 1–100?
- Values 50–75 only
- Values above 100
- Values 1–100 (Correct answer)
- Value exactly 50
Correct answer: Values 1–100
A valid equivalence class contains values that are expected to be processed correctly, so 1–100 represents the valid partition.
Question 6: Which QA activity focuses on verifying that a software product meets its specified requirements?
- Validation
- Verification (Correct answer)
- Certification
- Accreditation
Correct answer: Verification
Verification confirms that the product is built according to specifications, asking 'Are we building the product right?'
Question 7: What does the 'pesticide paradox' in software testing warn against?
- Using automated tests exclusively
- Repeating the same tests, which stops finding new defects (Correct answer)
- Testing too early in the development cycle
- Over-relying on formal inspections
Correct answer: Repeating the same tests, which stops finding new defects
The pesticide paradox states that running the same tests repeatedly will eventually stop finding new bugs, requiring tests to be updated.
CSM Quality Assurance & Testing Practices 2
Which testing technique derives test cases from the specification without examining internal code structure?