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AP Computer Science Principles

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Unit 1

1.6 MC Answers and Review

6 min read•march 13, 2023

AP Computer Science Principles ⌨️

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Answers and Review for Multiple Choice Practice on Creative Development

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⛔STOP ⛔ Before you look at the answers, make sure you gave this practice quiz a try so you can assess your understanding of the concepts covered in Big Idea 1. Click here for the practice questions: AP CS: Principles Big Idea 1 Multiple Choice Questions.

Facts about the test: The AP CS: Principles exam has 70 multiple choice questions and you will be given 2 hours (120 minutes) to complete the section. That means it should take you around 10 minutes to complete 6 questions.

The following questions were not written by College Board and, although they cover information outlined in the AP Computer Science Principles Course and Exam Description, the formatting on the exam may be different.

1. How does documentation help with maintaining programs?

A. If code is modified, the documentation can guide the programmer in testing to ensure the functionality is still correct.

B. It journals the history of program changes showing how the program first worked before changes

C. It documents how to run the program in multiple languages for a global audience.

D. It is useful for training new employees on how to learn the programming language.

Explanation: by documenting what the program does, the programmer who might change the code can test to make sure the functionality is still correct.

Read this guide on documentations!

2. What can help with identifying & correcting program errors?

A. revisiting requirements

B. collaboration

C. clustering requirements & tests

D. consolidating testing

Explanation: collaboration in the practice of working in groups on a task. It is an effective way to test & correct code.

Watch this review of Big Idea 1!

3. How is collaboration useful in analyzing datasets?

A. multiple viewpoints can give several outcomes for the data

B. analysis can be divided among several people to speed up the analysis

C. applying different experiences & skills gives better analysis & insight

D. having multiple leaders helps the group for alliances based on interests

Explanation: having people with different perspectives can help identify new trends/solutions.

Read this guide about design and development!

4. Given the importance of sharing insight & knowledge gained from processing data, how can this be effectively communicated?

A. using summaries of the insights

B. providing detailed examples of the data to prove accuracy

C. using tables & diagrams of the findings

D. All of the above

Explanation: many strategies to share information.. choosing the level of detail & presentation method based on audience is important Watch this review of Big Idea 1!

5. Why do we need more than one programming language?

A. some cannot implement needed algorithms

B. some cannot be compiled & don't run efficiently

C. Some languages are designed for specific uses & only used well in those situations

D. there is no reason, just the preference of those who create new languages

Explanation: most languages can implement an algorithm, but some languages designed for a specific task are limited in their application.

Read this introduction to Big Idea 1!

6. How are algorithms & programs related?

A. they have a hierarchical relationship

B. programs implement algorithms

C. algorithms implement programs

D. they can both be run on a computer

Explanation: algorithms are identified first, then programs are written to implement the algorithm design.

Watch this review on algorithms and programming

7. What is a benefit of collaboration when writing code?

A. collaboration allows the work to be divided among independent programmers to create

B. collaboration makes it easier to find errors

C. collaboration makes it easier to document another person's code

D. collaboration produces an increase in user requirements that can be met with more team members

Explanation: collaboration can help find & correct errors when developing & testing programs. Read this guide about design and development!

8. Which line of code can be placed inside the braces { } to fix the following loop so it will not be an infinite loop?

A. name <-- INPUT ()

B. IF name < > "done")

C. count = count + 1

D. name <-- studentRoster

Watch this review on algorithms and programming

9. Below is a flowchart of an alarm clock snooze process. What value does the variable "count" have after tracing through the flowchart?

A. 4

B. 0

C. 5

D. count = count + 1

Explanation: the condition to keep hitting the snooze tests to see if the count is >= 4. After count =4, the flowchart processing continues to the message to wake up without increasing "count". Read this guide about design and development!

10. A programmer tests an app she wrote using one set of test cases. Since the app was developed for her personal use, does it need to undergo further testing?

A. yes all software should be tested with a variety of test cases to ensure the code works as expected

B. additional testing is required only when there are more than 25 lines of code

C. additional testing is needed when procedures are used

D. no, since the app is for personal use, less testing is acceptable

Explanation: programs developed for personal use don't have the same level of testing as apps that handle sensitive information or code that is widely distributed. Read this guide about design and development!

11. What is displayed after the following code runs?

A. Good luck on the AP exam!

B. Error message, cannot add text fields

C. good luck on the ap exam!

D. 24, which is the number of characters in the text fields

Explanation: the + when used with text fields concatenates them together.

Watch this review on algorithms and programming

12. Which algorithm should be used to find a phone number on a contact list?

A. I

B. II

C. I and II are equally effective

D. A combination of I and II should be used

Explanation: the first one sorts by name but then uses a binary search using phone number, which may not return correct results.

Watch this review on algorithms and programming

13. The principal hired the programming class to write a program to reserve parking spots in the student parking lot. She wants seniors to have the best spots. What is the best way the programming class can verify a student is a senior?

A. Grade can be an input field that is then passed to the procedure to select an available spot

B. the program can loop through the school district rosters for every student name

C. Use an API to integrate with the school's information system hosted off-site to check grade level

D. Have students upload a photo from the school registrar showing their grade with their parking spot request

Explanation: For security reasons, students should not integrate with the school system database. Adding a step to upload a photo is inefficient. Watch this review of Big Idea 1!

14. You have to change a program written a year ago by someone else. A sample section of code is given below. How could the original program author have helped someone making changes at a later date?

A. provided the original program requirements

B. added a video describing the program design & functionality

C. used procedure and variable names that described their purpose/context

D. provided written documentation of the application development process