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What this C++ code-reading question tests

This is a medium-difficulty C++ question that asks you to trace through a code snippet and predict its output. It rewards careful attention to language semantics, operator precedence, and how the standard library handles character and string operations.

To solve problems like this, you need to mentally execute the code step-by-step, paying close attention to implicit conversions, function signatures, and the actual behaviour of standard functions. Many candidates slip up by making assumptions about operator overloading or character encoding rather than reasoning through what the code actually does.

• Character vs. string literals and their types
• Operator overloading and function resolution
• Type conversions and promotions
• Standard library function behaviour