Deck 6: Design With Functions

Question 1

Recursive functions are frequently used to design algorithms for computing values that have a recursive definition.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The assignment of roles and responsibilities to different actors in a program is also called responsibility-driven design.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

When you design an algorithm, it should be general enough to provide a solution to many problem instances, not just one or a few of them.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The use of a common pool of data allows a program to grow easily as new data sources are added to the program.

Question 5

Like with an infinite loop, an infinite recursion eventually halts execution with an error message.

Question 6

Each box in a structure chart is labeled with a module name.

Question 7

Recursive functions tend to be more complicated than the corresponding loops.

Question 8

The amount of memory needed for a loop grows with the size of the problem's data set.

Question 9

When a call returns or completes its execution, the memory for the stack frame is reallocated.

Question 10

A function call expresses the idea of a process to the programmer, forcing him or her to wade through the complex code that realizes that idea.

Question 11

The first five numbers of the Fibonacci sequence are 1 3 5 8 13.

Question 12

In a case of infinite recursion, the Python virtual machine eventually runs out of memory resources to manage the process, so it halts execution with an error message.

Question 13

An abstraction hides detail and thus allows a person to view many things as just one thing.

Question 14

To get a better understanding of how recursion works, it is helpful to trace its calls.

Question 15

A recursive function must contain at least one repetition statement.

Question 16

Most recursive functions expect no arguments.

Question 17

In bottom-up design, you decompose a complex problem into a set of simpler problems and solve these with different functions.

Question 18

It is possible to construct any algorithm using only Python's built-in operators and control statements.

Question 19

Recursive solutions are often more natural and elegant than their iterative counterparts.

Question 20

A black-box chart is a diagram that shows the relationships among a program's functions and the passage of data between them.

Question 21

How does top-down design work?

A) A problem is solved by employing a large task force to evaluate the cause.
B) A problem is solved by redesigning and repurposing existing software.
C) A solution is created to solve a problem, and individual issues are resolved as they are encountered.
D) A problem is decomposed into smaller problems, which are gradually solved to produce a solution.

Question 22

In a recursive function, what is used to determine whether to stop or to continue with another recursive step?

A) terminator value
B) base case
C) recursion factor
D) step counter

Question 23

Where can the required arguments for a function be found?

A) In the function header.
B) In the module docstring.
C) In the function keyword list.
D) In the function's return list.

Question 24

What is the name for a diagram that shows the relationships among a program's functions and the passage of data between them?

A) data map
B) structure map
C) structure chart
D) program flowchart

Question 25

For each call of a function, the Python virtual machine must allocate a small chunk of memory on the call stack, which is known by what term?

A) stack chunk
B) stack frame
C) data nibble
D) memory slice

Question 26

A Python function cannot under normal circumstances reference a module variable for its value.

Question 27

The process of hiding a complex process by developing a mechanism to simplify or hide that process is known by what term?

A) simplification
B) obfuscation
C) abstraction
D) diffraction

Question 28

What is the purpose of a higher-order function?

A) It separates the task of transforming data values from the logic of accumulating the results.
B) It is a mutator that can be utilized on functions to remove redundant patterns in code.
C) It allows the definition of specialized ordering logic for data sets.
D) It is a special function that ignores program scope and has access to localized variables.

Question 29

In Python, functions are treated as first-class data objects. What does this mean?

A) It means that they are considered to be global variables inside any Python code.
B) It means that the functions are given higher priority over resource access than regular chunks of code.
C) It means that functions are protected objects and are not easily imported from other modules, unless the author desires it.
D) It means that functions can be assigned to variables, passed as arguments to other functions, returned as values, and stored in data structures.

Question 30

The assignment of roles and responsibilities to different actors in a program is known as what type of design?

A) role-based access design
B) responsibility-driven design
C) delegated assignment design
D) task abstraction design

Question 31

What is the call stack used for in the Python virtual machine?

A) The call stack is an area of reserved memory used to store chunks of memory related to functions.
B) The call stack is an area of reserved memory used to perform system calls for access to hardware.
C) The call stack is a log of called functions and methods within the program.
D) The call stack is a temporary storage area for junk data.

Question 32

Smart compilers exist that can optimize some recursive functions by translating them to iterative machine code.

Question 33

What type of error is raised when the Python virtual machine runs out of memory resources to manage a process?

A) runaway process error
B) out of memory error
C) input output error
D) stack overflow error

Question 34

The Fibonacci sequence is a series of values that can be easily calculated with what kind of function?

A) recursive function
B) repeating function
C) duplicating function
D) compounding function

Question 35

A method reference always uses an object, which can be denoted by a string followed by a dot and the method name.

Question 36

What happens when a function tries to assign or change a value of a variable that has been defined at the module level?

A) The function succeeds, because the module variable is considered global in scope.
B) The function succeeds, but the value is appended to the variable.
C) The function fails, and an out of scope error message is raised.
D) Python creates a temporary variable with the same name, and the value of that variable exists only within the scope of the function.

Question 37

A program's namespace is the set of its variables and their values.

Question 38

What are two common methods by which functions serve as abstraction mechanisms? (Choose two.)

A) The elimination of redundant, or repetitious code.
B) The availability of detailed docstring data.
C) The hiding of complicated processes.
D) The use of a bottom-up approach to design.

Question 39

When using functions that have default arguments, the required arguments must be provided and must be placed in the same positions as they are in the function definition's header.

Question 40

What can often provide you with a pattern for designing the structure of a program?

A) The structure of the problem you're attempting to solve.
B) The structure of code written by other people.
C) The structure of an organization's workforce.
D) The structure of the programming language used.

Question 41

The gradual process of developing functions to solve each subproblem in a top-down design is known as what process?

A) procedural refinement
B) stepwise refinement
C) progressing resolution
D) incremental solving

Question 42

What makes up a Python program's namespace?

A) The combination of all included modules and their functions.
B) The set of all its variables and their values.
C) The defined methods of the program.
D) The main method of the program itself.

Question 43

In what higher-order function do you apply a predicate to each value within a list, and if the predicate returns true, the value is added to an object?

A) mapping
B) filtering
C) reducing
D) associating

Question 44

What higher-order function process applies a function to each value in a sequence and returns a new sequence of the results?

A) mapping
B) filtering
C) reducing
D) associating

Question 45

In Python, what is the term that is used to describe the area of a program text in which an object name refers to a given value?

A) relation
B) relevance
C) lifetime
D) scope

Question 46

What are the two different ways that default arguments can be provided to a function? (Choose two.)

A) By supplying arguments in which they occur in the function header.
B) By using a reference pointer variable.
C) By overloading the function and redefining the arguments.
D) By assigning values to the keys in the function header.

Question 47

What term describes a dictionary of functions keyed by command names?

A) command table
B) jump table
C) skip table
D) function table

Question 48

Which of the following statements are accurate? (Choose two.)

A) Parameters for a function receive values when they are declared.
B) When module variables are introduced in a program, they are immediately given a value.
C) A nested variable can assign value to a variable outside of its scope.
D) Temporary values receive their values as soon as they are introduced.

Question 49

What is the lambda function in Python utilized for?

A) It allows for the creation of an anonymous function, which contains the names of its arguments and a single expression.
B) It creates an overloaded function, such that the function can be repurposed on the fly.
C) It allows for the tracking of use of a targeted function.
D) It allows for multiple higher-order functions to be utilized on the same selection statements.

Question 50

What higher-order function takes a list of values and repeatedly applies a function to accumulate a single data value?

A) mapping
B) filtering
C) reducing
D) associating