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PCEP-30-02: What Does Python List Slicing [1:3] Return?

Explore Python list slicing in the context of the PCEP-30-02 exam. Learn how data[1:3] works and why [404, 3.03] is the correct output.

Table of Contents

Question

What is the expected output of the following code?

data = ['Peter', 404, 3.03, 'Wellert', 33.3]
print(data[1:3])

A. [‘Peter’, 404, 3.03, ‘Wellert’, 33.3]
B. None of the above.
C. [404, 3.03]
D. [‘Peter’, ‘Wellert’]

Answer

C. [404, 3.03]

Explanation

In Python, list slicing is a powerful feature that allows you to extract a portion of a list. The syntax for list slicing is list[start:end], where:

  1. ‘start’ is the index where the slice begins (inclusive)
  2. ‘end’ is the index where the slice ends (exclusive)

In this case, data[1:3] means:

  • Start at index 1 (the second element, since Python uses 0-based indexing)
  • End before index 3 (so include elements at index 1 and 2, but not 3)

Let’s break down the list:
data = [‘Peter’, 404, 3.03, ‘Wellert’, 33.3]
0 1 2 3 4 (indices)

data[1:3] will return:

  • Element at index 1: 404
  • Element at index 2: 3.03

Therefore, the result is [404, 3.03].

This question tests your understanding of:

  1. List indexing in Python (0-based)
  2. List slicing syntax and behavior
  3. How the end index in slicing is exclusive

This concept is crucial for the PCEP-30-02 exam and Python programming in general, as list manipulation is a fundamental skill. Remember that list slicing creates a new list containing the specified elements, which can be very useful for data processing and algorithm implementation.

Python Institute PCEP-30-02 certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the Python Institute PCEP-30-02 exam and earn Python Institute PCEP-30-02 certification.