WGU C854 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
1. According to Brooks’ Law, what happens when additional manpower is added to a late
software project?
A. The project becomes even later.
B. The project is completed slightly faster due to overhead.
C. The project finishes significantly faster.
D. The quality of the software improves but the timeline stays the same.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Brooks’ Law states that adding manpower to a late software
project makes it later because of the communication overhead and the time required for
new members to learn the system.
2. Which software process model is characterized by a risk-driven approach with repeating
cycles of planning, risk analysis, engineering, and evaluation?
A. Waterfall Model
B. Spiral Model
,C. V-Model
D. Incremental Model
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Spiral Model is a risk-driven process model that combines
elements of iterative development with systematic aspects of the waterfall model.
3. In the context of software modularity, what is the ideal relationship between cohesion and
coupling?
A. High cohesion and low coupling
B. Low cohesion and low coupling
C. Low cohesion and high coupling
D. High cohesion and high coupling
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Software design aims for high cohesion (modules perform one
specific task) and low coupling (modules are independent) to ensure maintainability.
4. Which of the following is a non-functional requirement?
A. The system shall allow users to reset their passwords.
B. The system shall generate a monthly sales report.
C. The system shall process a transaction in less than 2 seconds.
, D. The system shall allow administrators to delete user accounts.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Non-functional requirements specify criteria that can be used to
judge the operation of a system, such as performance or security, rather than specific
behaviors.
5. In Agile Scrum, who is responsible for maintaining the Product Backlog and prioritizing
items?
A. Scrum Master
B. Product Owner
C. Development Team
D. Project Manager
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Product Owner is the sole person responsible for managing
the Product Backlog, which includes expressing backlog items clearly and ordering them.
6. Which UML diagram is used to represent the dynamic behavior of a system by showing the
flow of control between objects over time?
A. Class Diagram
B. Sequence Diagram
C. Deployment Diagram
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
1. According to Brooks’ Law, what happens when additional manpower is added to a late
software project?
A. The project becomes even later.
B. The project is completed slightly faster due to overhead.
C. The project finishes significantly faster.
D. The quality of the software improves but the timeline stays the same.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Brooks’ Law states that adding manpower to a late software
project makes it later because of the communication overhead and the time required for
new members to learn the system.
2. Which software process model is characterized by a risk-driven approach with repeating
cycles of planning, risk analysis, engineering, and evaluation?
A. Waterfall Model
B. Spiral Model
,C. V-Model
D. Incremental Model
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Spiral Model is a risk-driven process model that combines
elements of iterative development with systematic aspects of the waterfall model.
3. In the context of software modularity, what is the ideal relationship between cohesion and
coupling?
A. High cohesion and low coupling
B. Low cohesion and low coupling
C. Low cohesion and high coupling
D. High cohesion and high coupling
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Software design aims for high cohesion (modules perform one
specific task) and low coupling (modules are independent) to ensure maintainability.
4. Which of the following is a non-functional requirement?
A. The system shall allow users to reset their passwords.
B. The system shall generate a monthly sales report.
C. The system shall process a transaction in less than 2 seconds.
, D. The system shall allow administrators to delete user accounts.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Non-functional requirements specify criteria that can be used to
judge the operation of a system, such as performance or security, rather than specific
behaviors.
5. In Agile Scrum, who is responsible for maintaining the Product Backlog and prioritizing
items?
A. Scrum Master
B. Product Owner
C. Development Team
D. Project Manager
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Product Owner is the sole person responsible for managing
the Product Backlog, which includes expressing backlog items clearly and ordering them.
6. Which UML diagram is used to represent the dynamic behavior of a system by showing the
flow of control between objects over time?
A. Class Diagram
B. Sequence Diagram
C. Deployment Diagram
