FREE PCEP Using the `else` block in loops Questions and Answers

Question 1

What is the output of the following code?

```python
for i in range(3):
    print(i)
else:
    print('Done!')
```

Accepted Answer

0
1
2
Done!

Answer

The `else` block in a `for` loop executes only if the loop completes its entire iteration without being terminated by a `break` statement. In this case, the loop finishes normally, so 'Done!' is printed after the numbers 0, 1, and 2.

Question 2

What is the output of the following code?

```python
for num in [1, 2, 3, 4]:
    if num == 3:
        break
    print(num)
else:
    print('Finished.')
```

Accepted Answer

1
2

Answer

The `break` statement terminates the loop when `num` is 3. Because the loop did not complete its full iteration, the `else` block is skipped entirely. Only the numbers before the `break` are printed.

Question 3

What is the output of this `while` loop?

```python
i = 5
while i > 0:
    i -= 1
    if i == 2:
        continue
    print(i)
else:
    print('Loop over.')
```

Accepted Answer

4
3
1
0
Loop over.

Answer

The `continue` statement skips the current iteration but does not terminate the loop. The loop continues until `i` becomes 0, at which point the condition `i > 0` is false. Since the loop completed normally, the `else` block is executed.

Question 4

Under which circumstance is the `else` block of a loop NOT executed?

Accepted Answer

When a `break` statement is executed.

Answer

The primary purpose of the `else` block in a loop is to run code when the loop finishes its iterations naturally. If the loop is exited prematurely using a `break` statement, the `else` block is skipped.

Question 5

What will be printed to the console?

```python
for char in 'PCEP':
    print(char)
    break
else:
    print('End of string')
```

Accepted Answer

P

Answer

The loop starts with the first character 'P' and prints it. Immediately after, the `break` statement is encountered, which terminates the loop. Since the loop was terminated by `break`, the `else` block is not executed.

(PCEP) Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer Practice Test

(PCEP) Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer Practice Test

FREE PCEP Using the `else` block in loops Questions and Answers