CSCI 1730 Midterm Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025/2026
Phases of a C program - Answers 1. edit, 2. preprocess, 3. compile, 4. link, 5. load, 6. execute
editing phase - Answers the program is created in the editor and stored on the disk
preprocess phase - Answers the preprocessor program processes the code
compile phase - Answers compiler takes the code from source files -> object code and stores it
on disk
linking phase - Answers the linker links the object code with the libraries and creates a.out
(object code -> executable program) and stores it on disk
loading phase - Answers the loader takes the program from the disk and puts it in primary
memory
executing phase - Answers the CPU takes instruction and executes it, possibly storing new data
values as the program executes
preprocessor directives - Answers #include, tell preprocessor what contents to include when
processing code
#include <stdio.h> - Answers tells preprocessor to include the contents of <stdio.h>, which
contains input/output operations (such as printing to the screen)
printf() - Answers prints text to screen, but to print variables within a string, you must include
format specifiers within the string, followed by the variables as subsequent arguments to the
function
%d - Answers base 10 signed int
%u - Answers base 10 unsigned int
%f - Answers floating point values
%p - Answers pointers
%x - Answers hexadecimals
%c - Answers characters
%s - Answers strings
compiling and linking - Answers done in one step with one C source file, done separately with
multiple source files; to compile and link the source file -> pass it as argument to gcc -
generates executable file named a.out, but to specify name: gcc -o name file.c
, makefile - Answers must be located in same directory as the C source files; cl, run, and clean =
targets - can be given to make utility as arguments, first target = default target, either named
makefile or Makefile; targets can be followed by dependencies after colon ; flags added will
scrutinize source code more strictly so it follows the strict C standard better
default target - Answers the target that is assumed when no argument is passed to make; the
first target in the makefile
target dependencies - Answers could be a file that needs to exist in current working directory or
another target that will be executed before executing the current target
4 basic data types - Answers char, int, float, and double - can be combined with modifiers signed,
unsigned, short, and long
signed - Answers leftmost bit in the binary representation is reserved for a signed bit, 0 = non-
negative value represented, 1 = negative value represented
unsigned - Answers all the bits in the binary representation are used to represent a non-negative
value
char - Answers exactly one byte (8 bits) to store a single character - only fundamental type with
a standard size that is specified, other types it depends on compiler implementation
sizeof() - Answers to get number of bytes for a type, parameter = a variable
x << y - Answers all bits in x shifted left y bits; left shift once produces a result 2 times the
original integer
x >> y - Answers all bits in x shifted right y bits, right shift once produces a result that is original
integer divided by 2
~x - Answers all bits in x flipped, 0->1 or vice versa
x & y - Answers each bit in x AND each bit in y
x | y - Answers each bit in x OR each bit in y
x ^ y - Answers each bit in x XOR each bit in y
mask - Answers can be used to set bits in a variable either on, off, or inverted from on to off, on
= 1, off = 0
turn bits on - Answers use OR |
turn bits off - Answers use AND &
decimal - Answers base 10, 10 available digits, 1-9
Phases of a C program - Answers 1. edit, 2. preprocess, 3. compile, 4. link, 5. load, 6. execute
editing phase - Answers the program is created in the editor and stored on the disk
preprocess phase - Answers the preprocessor program processes the code
compile phase - Answers compiler takes the code from source files -> object code and stores it
on disk
linking phase - Answers the linker links the object code with the libraries and creates a.out
(object code -> executable program) and stores it on disk
loading phase - Answers the loader takes the program from the disk and puts it in primary
memory
executing phase - Answers the CPU takes instruction and executes it, possibly storing new data
values as the program executes
preprocessor directives - Answers #include, tell preprocessor what contents to include when
processing code
#include <stdio.h> - Answers tells preprocessor to include the contents of <stdio.h>, which
contains input/output operations (such as printing to the screen)
printf() - Answers prints text to screen, but to print variables within a string, you must include
format specifiers within the string, followed by the variables as subsequent arguments to the
function
%d - Answers base 10 signed int
%u - Answers base 10 unsigned int
%f - Answers floating point values
%p - Answers pointers
%x - Answers hexadecimals
%c - Answers characters
%s - Answers strings
compiling and linking - Answers done in one step with one C source file, done separately with
multiple source files; to compile and link the source file -> pass it as argument to gcc -
generates executable file named a.out, but to specify name: gcc -o name file.c
, makefile - Answers must be located in same directory as the C source files; cl, run, and clean =
targets - can be given to make utility as arguments, first target = default target, either named
makefile or Makefile; targets can be followed by dependencies after colon ; flags added will
scrutinize source code more strictly so it follows the strict C standard better
default target - Answers the target that is assumed when no argument is passed to make; the
first target in the makefile
target dependencies - Answers could be a file that needs to exist in current working directory or
another target that will be executed before executing the current target
4 basic data types - Answers char, int, float, and double - can be combined with modifiers signed,
unsigned, short, and long
signed - Answers leftmost bit in the binary representation is reserved for a signed bit, 0 = non-
negative value represented, 1 = negative value represented
unsigned - Answers all the bits in the binary representation are used to represent a non-negative
value
char - Answers exactly one byte (8 bits) to store a single character - only fundamental type with
a standard size that is specified, other types it depends on compiler implementation
sizeof() - Answers to get number of bytes for a type, parameter = a variable
x << y - Answers all bits in x shifted left y bits; left shift once produces a result 2 times the
original integer
x >> y - Answers all bits in x shifted right y bits, right shift once produces a result that is original
integer divided by 2
~x - Answers all bits in x flipped, 0->1 or vice versa
x & y - Answers each bit in x AND each bit in y
x | y - Answers each bit in x OR each bit in y
x ^ y - Answers each bit in x XOR each bit in y
mask - Answers can be used to set bits in a variable either on, off, or inverted from on to off, on
= 1, off = 0
turn bits on - Answers use OR |
turn bits off - Answers use AND &
decimal - Answers base 10, 10 available digits, 1-9
