CPSC 217 FINAL | LATEST STUDY | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | 2026 STUDY UPDATES
What is the best way to create functions for a program? Give example - ANSWER- Top
down approach, break it down into parts
ex. Program to calculate interest, break it into 3 functions
1. Get info
2. Do Calculations
3. Display results
What is the result of and how does it work?
def displayInstructions ( ):
print ("Displaying instructions")
displayInstructions ( )
print ("End") - ANSWER- You created a function called displayIntructions. The body of that
function has the print function in it which will have the output of: "Displaying instructions"
Then you called on your newly defined function, so this executes the function (ie, its body) and
then the last output is: "End"
True or false: once a function is executed one time, it can't be called again, even if you try and
call the function multiple times. - ANSWER- False! You can reuse a function as many times
as you want/is called
What is the difference between a local variable and global variable? - ANSWER- Local
variables are stored within function bodies.
Global variables are generally defined at the beginning of the code and can be accessed anytime
,Why have local variables? - ANSWER- Since variables are memory locations, they take up
a portion of memory of the program. So by creating local variables, the memory is used up
temporarily, and then once the function is executed, that memory frees up.
When a constant or a variable is in scope, we really mean...Give example - ANSWER- It is
somewhere that it can be used. Ex. a local variable is in scope of the function it is under
What is parameter passing? What's often forgotten (2)? - ANSWER- Passing local variables
from one function to another.
The number of parameters passed into a function, must equal the number of
parameters/variables that are called on. It also needs to match exactly what is called on in the
start function.
Is this correct:
def start ( ):
print (num) - ANSWER- No, no parameter 'num' passed into start, so it can't access that
memory location called 'num'.
To fix it, must have:
def start (num):
print (num)
What does the return function do? What is often forgotten?
Give example - ANSWER- It communicates a copy of information out of a function (back to
caller) as function ends.
THE RETURN VALUE MUST BE STORED IN THE START FUNCTION
def square (num):
result = num * num
, return (result)
def start ( ):
aStr = input ("Enter a number: ")
num = int(aStr)
*result* = square (num)
print (result)
Difference between parameter passing and return values? - ANSWER- Parameter passing
passes info INTO function before it executes (passes memory location of variable into function)
Return values communicate info OUT of a function as the function ends
What are some good style of functions that should be implemented? - ANSWER- 1.
Function should have a well defined task
2. Have a self-descriptive name
3. No longer than 1 screen
4. Use variable naming conventions (lower case, camel-case, or underscore)
Why should you not use global variables? Give an example - ANSWER- Can accidentally be
changed anywhere - since they can be accessed from anywhere, makes code harder to trace
num = 1
def fun ( ):
*global* num #calls in global num
num = 2 #changes global num from 1 to 2
print (num)
def start ( ):
ANSWERS | 2026 STUDY UPDATES
What is the best way to create functions for a program? Give example - ANSWER- Top
down approach, break it down into parts
ex. Program to calculate interest, break it into 3 functions
1. Get info
2. Do Calculations
3. Display results
What is the result of and how does it work?
def displayInstructions ( ):
print ("Displaying instructions")
displayInstructions ( )
print ("End") - ANSWER- You created a function called displayIntructions. The body of that
function has the print function in it which will have the output of: "Displaying instructions"
Then you called on your newly defined function, so this executes the function (ie, its body) and
then the last output is: "End"
True or false: once a function is executed one time, it can't be called again, even if you try and
call the function multiple times. - ANSWER- False! You can reuse a function as many times
as you want/is called
What is the difference between a local variable and global variable? - ANSWER- Local
variables are stored within function bodies.
Global variables are generally defined at the beginning of the code and can be accessed anytime
,Why have local variables? - ANSWER- Since variables are memory locations, they take up
a portion of memory of the program. So by creating local variables, the memory is used up
temporarily, and then once the function is executed, that memory frees up.
When a constant or a variable is in scope, we really mean...Give example - ANSWER- It is
somewhere that it can be used. Ex. a local variable is in scope of the function it is under
What is parameter passing? What's often forgotten (2)? - ANSWER- Passing local variables
from one function to another.
The number of parameters passed into a function, must equal the number of
parameters/variables that are called on. It also needs to match exactly what is called on in the
start function.
Is this correct:
def start ( ):
print (num) - ANSWER- No, no parameter 'num' passed into start, so it can't access that
memory location called 'num'.
To fix it, must have:
def start (num):
print (num)
What does the return function do? What is often forgotten?
Give example - ANSWER- It communicates a copy of information out of a function (back to
caller) as function ends.
THE RETURN VALUE MUST BE STORED IN THE START FUNCTION
def square (num):
result = num * num
, return (result)
def start ( ):
aStr = input ("Enter a number: ")
num = int(aStr)
*result* = square (num)
print (result)
Difference between parameter passing and return values? - ANSWER- Parameter passing
passes info INTO function before it executes (passes memory location of variable into function)
Return values communicate info OUT of a function as the function ends
What are some good style of functions that should be implemented? - ANSWER- 1.
Function should have a well defined task
2. Have a self-descriptive name
3. No longer than 1 screen
4. Use variable naming conventions (lower case, camel-case, or underscore)
Why should you not use global variables? Give an example - ANSWER- Can accidentally be
changed anywhere - since they can be accessed from anywhere, makes code harder to trace
num = 1
def fun ( ):
*global* num #calls in global num
num = 2 #changes global num from 1 to 2
print (num)
def start ( ):
