What this Python code-reading question tests
This is an easy code-reading question that checks whether you can trace execution flow and predict output in Python. It's a common warm-up in technical interviews because it reveals whether a candidate reads code carefully and understands how Python evaluates statements.
To answer questions like this, you need to follow the logical path through the code step by step, keeping track of variable state and control flow. Pay close attention to indentation, function calls, and any side effects (like print statements or variable reassignment) that occur along the way. These questions often trip up candidates who skim rather than trace, so deliberate, methodical reading is the key skill being tested.
- Control flow and conditional logic
- Variable scope and reassignment
- Understanding print output and return values