The Keyword Swap

What this C++ language-knowledge question tests

This is a medium-difficulty question that probes your depth of understanding in C++ semantics and keyword behavior. Rather than testing algorithmic thinking, it rewards close reading of code and familiarity with how the language handles specific constructs under the hood.

Questions of this type appear in technical screening rounds because they separate candidates who know C++ idiomatically from those who rely on surface-level pattern matching. You'll need to trace through the program carefully, paying attention to how the compiler interprets each statement and what values actually get produced at runtime.

• Operator precedence and associativity
• Type conversion and implicit coercion
• Scope and variable lifetime
• Keyword semantics and language rules