Slice and Dice 3

What this Python slicing and indexing question tests

This is a medium-difficulty question that probes your working knowledge of Python's slicing syntax and how sequence indexing behaves with negative indices, step values, and edge cases. Questions like this commonly appear in screening rounds to verify that you can read and reason about code without running it — a practical skill when debugging or code-reviewing under time pressure.

To solve it, you need to trace through the slice notation carefully, understanding how Python interprets start, stop, and step parameters, and how negative indices map to positions in the sequence. The question rewards precision: small mistakes in reasoning about boundaries or direction can lead to wrong answers.

• Negative indexing and wraparound semantics
• Step direction and its effect on slice order
• Boundary conditions and empty slices