ASU CSE 360 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS &
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
(WELL VERIFIED) BRAND Exam
1. What is the primary distinction between "Software Engineering"
and "Programming"?
A) Programming is done in teams, while engineering is individual.
B) Software engineering involves systematic, disciplined, quantifiable
approaches to development, operation, and maintenance.
C) Software engineering only applies to web development.
D) There is no difference; they are synonyms.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Programming focuses on writing code. Software engineering
encompasses the entire lifecycle (requirements, design, testing,
maintenance) using engineering principles.
2. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of "Software" as
opposed to "Hardware"?
A) Software is developed or engineered; it is not manufactured.
B) Software doesn't "wear out" but deteriorates due to faults.
C) Most software is custom-built rather than assembled from components.
D) Software is physical and degrades due to environmental factors like heat.
ANSWER: D
Rationale: Software is logical, not physical. While hardware wears out
,physically (bathtub curve), software deteriorates due to undetected faults or
changing requirements (the "rusting" effect).
3. In the Waterfall Model, a phase must be completed before the next
phase begins. What is a major drawback of this approach?
A) It is too flexible for large teams.
B) It does not allow for iteration or easy incorporation of feedback.
C) It requires working software after every week.
D) It cannot be used with documentation.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: The Waterfall model is sequential. If requirements change mid-
way, you cannot easily go back, making it risky for projects with unclear
requirements.
4. The "V-Model" (Verification and Validation model) emphasizes:
A) Developing without any testing to save time.
B) The relationship between each development phase and its
corresponding testing phase.
C) Only user interface design.
D) Random code generation.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: The V-Model maps testing phases (Unit, Integration, System,
Acceptance) to development phases (Code, Design, Architecture,
Requirements), emphasizing early test planning.
5. Which SDLC model involves developing the system in small,
incremental "releases" (e.g., building a simple version first, then
adding features)?
A) Waterfall
B) Big Bang
,C) Incremental Model
D) V-Model
ANSWER: C
Rationale: The Incremental Model breaks the product into components
delivered one by one. The first increment is usually the core product.
6. The Spiral Model combines iterative development with:
A) Waterfall's rigidity
B) Prototyping
C) Systematic risk analysis
D) Code-and-fix
ANSWER: C
Rationale: The Spiral model is risk-driven. Each loop (quadrant) involves
identifying, analyzing, and mitigating risks before proceeding to the next
iteration.
7. Which model is best suited for projects with rapidly changing
requirements and a need for quick delivery of basic functionality?
A) Waterfall
B) V-Model
C) Agile / Iterative
D) Classical Waterfall
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Agile methods embrace change. They are designed for dynamic
environments where customers don't fully know what they want upfront.
8. What is the "Build and Fix" model known for?
A) High quality documentation
B) Low cost and zero risk
, C) High risk of unmaintainable code and lack of planning
D) Strict adherence to international standards
ANSWER: C
Rationale: "Build and Fix" is the cowboy approach: write code, ship it, then
fix it when it breaks. It lacks architecture and often results in "spaghetti
code."
9. In software engineering, "legacy software" refers to:
A) Open-source software.
B) Software written for ancient operating systems that cannot be updated.
C) Old programs that are often mission-critical but hard to maintain due to
outdated architecture.
D) Trial versions of software.
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Legacy systems are usually old, large, and critical to business
operations. They are often expensive to maintain and difficult to replace.
10. Which of the following is a primary characteristic of the "Iterative
Model"?
A) The product is completed in one single cycle.
B) No testing is required until the final iteration.
C) A simple initial version is refined through successive versions (iterations).
D) The customer is only involved at the end of the project.
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Iteration means repetition. You start with a rough set of
requirements, build, gather feedback, and refine the software in cycles.
11. According to the ASU CSE 360 syllabus, the main objective of the
course is to:
A) Learn Python syntax.
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
(WELL VERIFIED) BRAND Exam
1. What is the primary distinction between "Software Engineering"
and "Programming"?
A) Programming is done in teams, while engineering is individual.
B) Software engineering involves systematic, disciplined, quantifiable
approaches to development, operation, and maintenance.
C) Software engineering only applies to web development.
D) There is no difference; they are synonyms.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Programming focuses on writing code. Software engineering
encompasses the entire lifecycle (requirements, design, testing,
maintenance) using engineering principles.
2. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of "Software" as
opposed to "Hardware"?
A) Software is developed or engineered; it is not manufactured.
B) Software doesn't "wear out" but deteriorates due to faults.
C) Most software is custom-built rather than assembled from components.
D) Software is physical and degrades due to environmental factors like heat.
ANSWER: D
Rationale: Software is logical, not physical. While hardware wears out
,physically (bathtub curve), software deteriorates due to undetected faults or
changing requirements (the "rusting" effect).
3. In the Waterfall Model, a phase must be completed before the next
phase begins. What is a major drawback of this approach?
A) It is too flexible for large teams.
B) It does not allow for iteration or easy incorporation of feedback.
C) It requires working software after every week.
D) It cannot be used with documentation.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: The Waterfall model is sequential. If requirements change mid-
way, you cannot easily go back, making it risky for projects with unclear
requirements.
4. The "V-Model" (Verification and Validation model) emphasizes:
A) Developing without any testing to save time.
B) The relationship between each development phase and its
corresponding testing phase.
C) Only user interface design.
D) Random code generation.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: The V-Model maps testing phases (Unit, Integration, System,
Acceptance) to development phases (Code, Design, Architecture,
Requirements), emphasizing early test planning.
5. Which SDLC model involves developing the system in small,
incremental "releases" (e.g., building a simple version first, then
adding features)?
A) Waterfall
B) Big Bang
,C) Incremental Model
D) V-Model
ANSWER: C
Rationale: The Incremental Model breaks the product into components
delivered one by one. The first increment is usually the core product.
6. The Spiral Model combines iterative development with:
A) Waterfall's rigidity
B) Prototyping
C) Systematic risk analysis
D) Code-and-fix
ANSWER: C
Rationale: The Spiral model is risk-driven. Each loop (quadrant) involves
identifying, analyzing, and mitigating risks before proceeding to the next
iteration.
7. Which model is best suited for projects with rapidly changing
requirements and a need for quick delivery of basic functionality?
A) Waterfall
B) V-Model
C) Agile / Iterative
D) Classical Waterfall
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Agile methods embrace change. They are designed for dynamic
environments where customers don't fully know what they want upfront.
8. What is the "Build and Fix" model known for?
A) High quality documentation
B) Low cost and zero risk
, C) High risk of unmaintainable code and lack of planning
D) Strict adherence to international standards
ANSWER: C
Rationale: "Build and Fix" is the cowboy approach: write code, ship it, then
fix it when it breaks. It lacks architecture and often results in "spaghetti
code."
9. In software engineering, "legacy software" refers to:
A) Open-source software.
B) Software written for ancient operating systems that cannot be updated.
C) Old programs that are often mission-critical but hard to maintain due to
outdated architecture.
D) Trial versions of software.
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Legacy systems are usually old, large, and critical to business
operations. They are often expensive to maintain and difficult to replace.
10. Which of the following is a primary characteristic of the "Iterative
Model"?
A) The product is completed in one single cycle.
B) No testing is required until the final iteration.
C) A simple initial version is refined through successive versions (iterations).
D) The customer is only involved at the end of the project.
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Iteration means repetition. You start with a rough set of
requirements, build, gather feedback, and refine the software in cycles.
11. According to the ASU CSE 360 syllabus, the main objective of the
course is to:
A) Learn Python syntax.
