APCSP Midterm Review Questions ACTUAL UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Algorithms need to run in a "reasonable" amount of time Choice 'C' is the correct answer
in order to be considered practically useful. Which of the Run time is determined by first counting the number of steps an algorithm takes
following BEST describes how programmers determine if and then comparing that number to a polynomial function of the size of the input,
an algorithm takes a reasonable amount of time? as described in Choice 'C.
a) Programmers time how long it takes a program to
execute using multiple inputs. An average time is
calculated after several trials.
b) Programmers count the number of lines of code in an
algorithm.
c) Programmers count the number of steps an algorithm
takes and compare that number to a polynomial function
of the size of the input.
d) Programmers run a standard base algorithm at the
same time as their algorithm and note which one finishes
executing first.
Emergency rooms use a triage procedure to emit patients Choice 'D' is correct. The triage process allows the hospital to quickly collect
based on need. The process involves a nurse asking information about a situation and make a judgement about what is most likely
several direct questions to determine which people need needed. Formal medical diagnosis is much slower and can often be an unsolvable
to be helped quickly. What term in computer science problem. The triage process is not 100% accurate, but provides a 'shortcut that
best describes this process? allows them to react quickly. This is the same mechanism as a heuristic.
a) Diagnosis
b) Documentation
c) Machine learning
d) Heuristic
The following quotes are from Wikipedia regarding Choices 'B' and 'C' are the correct answers. Different computer languages are
different computer languages. Given the following better suited to different tasks. Visual, drag-and-drop style languages are better
information, which would you likely recommend to a suited than general purpose text-based languages for younger students.
precocious 6th grader who wants an introduction to
computer programming? Select TWO answers.
A.) Java: "Java is a general-purpose computer
programming language that is concurrent, class-based,
object-oriented, ...It is intended to let application
developers 'write once, run anywhere'
B.) Alice: "Alice uses a drag and drop environment to
create computer animations using 3D models."
C.) Scratch: "Scratch is a visual programming language...[It
can be used to create games and provide a stepping
stone to the more advanced world of computer
programming."
D.) Python: "Python is a widely used general-purpose,
high-level programming language. Its design philosophy
emphasizes code readability. The language provides
constructs intended to enable clear programs on both a
small and large scale."
,The game of tic-tac-toe has long been explored by Choice 'C' is correct The ability for the game to end in three different possibilities
computer scientists. The game has a small finite list of is important to consider. The wording of Choice 'C' phrases it as winnable or not.
permutations, but does not contain an algorithm for This forces the algorithm to have two choices "win" vs "not win". Due to the finite
guaranteed victory. How might you describe the number of choices, the algorithm can determine whether the game is still
algorithm used by Al to play the game? winnable on any given turn. This makes it decidable.
a) Computer because a win state is always possible.
b) Incomplete because a win state cannot always be
obtained.
c) Decidable because the algorithm can always answer
whether or not the game is winnable given the state of
the board.
d) Undecidable because of the possibilities of ties.
, By using a password that contains a mixture of 8 letters Choice 'C' is correct
and numbers, a hacker could crack your password in a
little over 16 minutes. However, by adding two more
letters or numbers, it increases the time to about 15 days!
By adding the @ symbol to your password, the time is
increased to almost 1628 years! Which of the following is
TRUE regarding passwords and the length of time it takes
to crack them?
a) As you increase the number of characters in your
password the ability to crack the password is solvable.
b) As you increase the number of characters in your
password the ability to crack the password is unsolvable.
c) As you increase the number of characters in your
password the ability to crack the password becomes
more unreasonable to solve.
d) As you increase the number of characters in your
password the ability to crack the password becomes
more reasonable to solve.
When determining the efficiency of an algorithm you Choices 'A' and 'B' are the correct answers.
must consider which of the following things? Select TWO Efficiency of an algorithm includes both execution time and memory usage.
answers.
a) How long the program takes to run
b) The amount of storage the program requires
c) How many lines of code the program has
d) The platforms on which the program can run
Assume you have note cards with 20 student names on Choice 'C' is the correct answer. Multiple algorithms can be used to solve the
them. You want to sort them, and your friends suggest same problem.
two different methods of sorting the cards. Alice
suggests the following:
- Put all the cards on the table
- Find the one which is first in alphabetical order, and
place it in a pile
Find the next one in alphabetical order, and place it in the
pile. Repeat until done. Elizabeth suggests:
- Put one card on the table.
- Look at the next card.
- Place it in front of or behind the first card based on
alphabetical order.
- Look at the card.
- Place it alphabetically in the correct location relative to
the cards currently on the table.
- Repeat until done.
Which of the following best describes the situation
outlined above?
a) Alice has a more efficient algorithm for sorting the
names.
b) Elizabeth's algorithm is the most efficient sorting
algorithm ever designed.
c) Either Elizabeth's or Alice's algorithm could be used to
sort the names.
d) This is an example of combining the algorithms
suggested to create a better solution to the problem.
CORRECT ANSWERS
Algorithms need to run in a "reasonable" amount of time Choice 'C' is the correct answer
in order to be considered practically useful. Which of the Run time is determined by first counting the number of steps an algorithm takes
following BEST describes how programmers determine if and then comparing that number to a polynomial function of the size of the input,
an algorithm takes a reasonable amount of time? as described in Choice 'C.
a) Programmers time how long it takes a program to
execute using multiple inputs. An average time is
calculated after several trials.
b) Programmers count the number of lines of code in an
algorithm.
c) Programmers count the number of steps an algorithm
takes and compare that number to a polynomial function
of the size of the input.
d) Programmers run a standard base algorithm at the
same time as their algorithm and note which one finishes
executing first.
Emergency rooms use a triage procedure to emit patients Choice 'D' is correct. The triage process allows the hospital to quickly collect
based on need. The process involves a nurse asking information about a situation and make a judgement about what is most likely
several direct questions to determine which people need needed. Formal medical diagnosis is much slower and can often be an unsolvable
to be helped quickly. What term in computer science problem. The triage process is not 100% accurate, but provides a 'shortcut that
best describes this process? allows them to react quickly. This is the same mechanism as a heuristic.
a) Diagnosis
b) Documentation
c) Machine learning
d) Heuristic
The following quotes are from Wikipedia regarding Choices 'B' and 'C' are the correct answers. Different computer languages are
different computer languages. Given the following better suited to different tasks. Visual, drag-and-drop style languages are better
information, which would you likely recommend to a suited than general purpose text-based languages for younger students.
precocious 6th grader who wants an introduction to
computer programming? Select TWO answers.
A.) Java: "Java is a general-purpose computer
programming language that is concurrent, class-based,
object-oriented, ...It is intended to let application
developers 'write once, run anywhere'
B.) Alice: "Alice uses a drag and drop environment to
create computer animations using 3D models."
C.) Scratch: "Scratch is a visual programming language...[It
can be used to create games and provide a stepping
stone to the more advanced world of computer
programming."
D.) Python: "Python is a widely used general-purpose,
high-level programming language. Its design philosophy
emphasizes code readability. The language provides
constructs intended to enable clear programs on both a
small and large scale."
,The game of tic-tac-toe has long been explored by Choice 'C' is correct The ability for the game to end in three different possibilities
computer scientists. The game has a small finite list of is important to consider. The wording of Choice 'C' phrases it as winnable or not.
permutations, but does not contain an algorithm for This forces the algorithm to have two choices "win" vs "not win". Due to the finite
guaranteed victory. How might you describe the number of choices, the algorithm can determine whether the game is still
algorithm used by Al to play the game? winnable on any given turn. This makes it decidable.
a) Computer because a win state is always possible.
b) Incomplete because a win state cannot always be
obtained.
c) Decidable because the algorithm can always answer
whether or not the game is winnable given the state of
the board.
d) Undecidable because of the possibilities of ties.
, By using a password that contains a mixture of 8 letters Choice 'C' is correct
and numbers, a hacker could crack your password in a
little over 16 minutes. However, by adding two more
letters or numbers, it increases the time to about 15 days!
By adding the @ symbol to your password, the time is
increased to almost 1628 years! Which of the following is
TRUE regarding passwords and the length of time it takes
to crack them?
a) As you increase the number of characters in your
password the ability to crack the password is solvable.
b) As you increase the number of characters in your
password the ability to crack the password is unsolvable.
c) As you increase the number of characters in your
password the ability to crack the password becomes
more unreasonable to solve.
d) As you increase the number of characters in your
password the ability to crack the password becomes
more reasonable to solve.
When determining the efficiency of an algorithm you Choices 'A' and 'B' are the correct answers.
must consider which of the following things? Select TWO Efficiency of an algorithm includes both execution time and memory usage.
answers.
a) How long the program takes to run
b) The amount of storage the program requires
c) How many lines of code the program has
d) The platforms on which the program can run
Assume you have note cards with 20 student names on Choice 'C' is the correct answer. Multiple algorithms can be used to solve the
them. You want to sort them, and your friends suggest same problem.
two different methods of sorting the cards. Alice
suggests the following:
- Put all the cards on the table
- Find the one which is first in alphabetical order, and
place it in a pile
Find the next one in alphabetical order, and place it in the
pile. Repeat until done. Elizabeth suggests:
- Put one card on the table.
- Look at the next card.
- Place it in front of or behind the first card based on
alphabetical order.
- Look at the card.
- Place it alphabetically in the correct location relative to
the cards currently on the table.
- Repeat until done.
Which of the following best describes the situation
outlined above?
a) Alice has a more efficient algorithm for sorting the
names.
b) Elizabeth's algorithm is the most efficient sorting
algorithm ever designed.
c) Either Elizabeth's or Alice's algorithm could be used to
sort the names.
d) This is an example of combining the algorithms
suggested to create a better solution to the problem.
