DS 110 FINAL EXAM VERSION 1 AND
VERSION 2 | FULL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | 2026/27 UPDATED | BOSTON
UNIVERSITY
Introduction
DS 110 Final Exam Version 1 and Version 2 practice bank is designed to help
students strengthen their understanding of introductory data science and prepare for
assessments involving data analysis, statistical reasoning, data visualization, and
computational thinking. The precise syllabus and format for Boston University's DS
110 should be checked against the course materials provided by the instructor; the
practice questions below use common introductory data science learning objectives
rather than claiming to reproduce an official exam.
This study resource emphasizes application-level scenarios, interpretation of results,
and choosing appropriate analytical methods. It is intended for students who want to
identify knowledge gaps, improve problem-solving skills, and build confidence before
their final assessment. Each multiple-choice question includes four options, one
clearly marked correct answer, and a detailed rationale explaining why the correct
choice is appropriate and why the alternatives are less suitable. Students should
attempt each question before reading its explanation, then revisit missed questions and
practice the underlying concept. No practice bank can guarantee a particular grade,
but deliberate review of these topics can support more effective preparation.
Core domains tested
Boston University's official course description identifies CDS DS 110 as Introduction
to Data Science with Python, covering the following areas. The practice domains
below are aligned with that description, not a verified copy of the final exam.
Boston University
+1
1.
Python fundamentals: variables, types, expressions, Boolean logic, and control
flow.
2.
3.
,Data structures: lists, tuples, dictionaries, sets, indexing, slicing, and
mutability.
4.
5.
Functions and scope: parameters, return values, local variables, abstraction,
and decomposition.
6.
7.
Recursion: base cases, recursive calls, tracing, and termination.
8.
9.
Object-oriented programming: classes, instances, attributes, methods, and
object behavior.
10.
11.
NumPy: arrays, vectorization, Boolean masks, shapes, and aggregation.
12.
13.
pandas: Series, DataFrames, filtering, missing values, grouping, and
transformations.
14.
15.
Data processing: cleaning, type conversion, duplicate handling, and data-
quality checks.
16.
17.
Data visualization: choosing appropriate plots, interpreting axes, and avoiding
misleading displays with Matplotlib.
18.
19.
Computational reasoning: algorithm tracing, debugging, efficiency, and
reproducible analysis.
, 20.
QUESTIONS 1–100
Python fundamentals and control flow
Q1: A researcher runs this code:
x = 7y = xx = x + 3
What are the final values of x and y?
A) x = 10, y = 10 B) x = 10, y = 7 C) x = 7, y = 10 D) x = 3, y = 7
Rationale: B is correct because assigning the integer value of x to y does not create a
live link between the two variable names. Reassigning x leaves y unchanged. A
incorrectly assumes that y updates automatically; C reverses the final values; D
confuses the increment of 3 with the new value of x.
Q2: What does the following expression evaluate to?
not (5 > 2 and 3 == 4) or False
A) False B) None C) True D) It raises a syntax error.
Rationale: C is correct. 5 > 2 is true, 3 == 4 is false, so their conjunction is false.
Negating it produces true, and True or False is true. A overlooks the negation; B is
not the result of Boolean operations; D is incorrect because the syntax is valid.
Q3: A program must classify an age as eligible when it is at least 18 and no greater
than 65. Which condition correctly expresses this inclusive interval?
A) age > 18 or age < 65 B) age >= 18 or age <= 65 C) age > 18 and age <
65 D) age >= 18 and age <= 65
Rationale: D is correct because both boundaries are included, and both conditions
must hold. A's or makes the condition true for nearly every age; B's or also accepts
values outside the interval; C excludes ages exactly 18 and 65.
Q4: Consider the code:
total = 0for i in range(2, 8, 2): total += i
What is total after the loop?
A) 10 B) 12 C) 14 D) 20
Rationale: B is correct because range(2, 8, 2) produces 2, 4, and 6, whose sum is
12. A omits a value; C incorrectly includes 8; D does not match the sequence's sum.
VERSION 2 | FULL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | 2026/27 UPDATED | BOSTON
UNIVERSITY
Introduction
DS 110 Final Exam Version 1 and Version 2 practice bank is designed to help
students strengthen their understanding of introductory data science and prepare for
assessments involving data analysis, statistical reasoning, data visualization, and
computational thinking. The precise syllabus and format for Boston University's DS
110 should be checked against the course materials provided by the instructor; the
practice questions below use common introductory data science learning objectives
rather than claiming to reproduce an official exam.
This study resource emphasizes application-level scenarios, interpretation of results,
and choosing appropriate analytical methods. It is intended for students who want to
identify knowledge gaps, improve problem-solving skills, and build confidence before
their final assessment. Each multiple-choice question includes four options, one
clearly marked correct answer, and a detailed rationale explaining why the correct
choice is appropriate and why the alternatives are less suitable. Students should
attempt each question before reading its explanation, then revisit missed questions and
practice the underlying concept. No practice bank can guarantee a particular grade,
but deliberate review of these topics can support more effective preparation.
Core domains tested
Boston University's official course description identifies CDS DS 110 as Introduction
to Data Science with Python, covering the following areas. The practice domains
below are aligned with that description, not a verified copy of the final exam.
Boston University
+1
1.
Python fundamentals: variables, types, expressions, Boolean logic, and control
flow.
2.
3.
,Data structures: lists, tuples, dictionaries, sets, indexing, slicing, and
mutability.
4.
5.
Functions and scope: parameters, return values, local variables, abstraction,
and decomposition.
6.
7.
Recursion: base cases, recursive calls, tracing, and termination.
8.
9.
Object-oriented programming: classes, instances, attributes, methods, and
object behavior.
10.
11.
NumPy: arrays, vectorization, Boolean masks, shapes, and aggregation.
12.
13.
pandas: Series, DataFrames, filtering, missing values, grouping, and
transformations.
14.
15.
Data processing: cleaning, type conversion, duplicate handling, and data-
quality checks.
16.
17.
Data visualization: choosing appropriate plots, interpreting axes, and avoiding
misleading displays with Matplotlib.
18.
19.
Computational reasoning: algorithm tracing, debugging, efficiency, and
reproducible analysis.
, 20.
QUESTIONS 1–100
Python fundamentals and control flow
Q1: A researcher runs this code:
x = 7y = xx = x + 3
What are the final values of x and y?
A) x = 10, y = 10 B) x = 10, y = 7 C) x = 7, y = 10 D) x = 3, y = 7
Rationale: B is correct because assigning the integer value of x to y does not create a
live link between the two variable names. Reassigning x leaves y unchanged. A
incorrectly assumes that y updates automatically; C reverses the final values; D
confuses the increment of 3 with the new value of x.
Q2: What does the following expression evaluate to?
not (5 > 2 and 3 == 4) or False
A) False B) None C) True D) It raises a syntax error.
Rationale: C is correct. 5 > 2 is true, 3 == 4 is false, so their conjunction is false.
Negating it produces true, and True or False is true. A overlooks the negation; B is
not the result of Boolean operations; D is incorrect because the syntax is valid.
Q3: A program must classify an age as eligible when it is at least 18 and no greater
than 65. Which condition correctly expresses this inclusive interval?
A) age > 18 or age < 65 B) age >= 18 or age <= 65 C) age > 18 and age <
65 D) age >= 18 and age <= 65
Rationale: D is correct because both boundaries are included, and both conditions
must hold. A's or makes the condition true for nearly every age; B's or also accepts
values outside the interval; C excludes ages exactly 18 and 65.
Q4: Consider the code:
total = 0for i in range(2, 8, 2): total += i
What is total after the loop?
A) 10 B) 12 C) 14 D) 20
Rationale: B is correct because range(2, 8, 2) produces 2, 4, and 6, whose sum is
12. A omits a value; C incorrectly includes 8; D does not match the sequence's sum.
