Python - Chapter 6: Review Questions

A file that data is written to is known as a(n) ______.

• input file

• output file

• sequential access file

• binary file

Answer explanation

It is called an output file because the program stores output in it.

A file that data is read from is known as a(n) ______.

• input file

• output file

• sequential access file

• binary file

Before a file can be used by a program, it must be ______.

• formatted

• encrypted

• closed

• open

Answer explanation

Opening a file creates a connection between the file and the program. Opening an output file usually creates the file on the disk and allows the program to write data to it.

When a program is finished using a file, it should do this.

• erase the file

• open the file

• close the file

• encrypt the file

Answer explanation

When the program is finished using the file, the file must be closed. Closing a file disconnects the file from the program. Also, Process the file, data is written to the file (if it is an output file) or read from the file (if it is an input file).

The contents of this type of file can be viewed in an editor such as Notepad.

• text file

• binary file

• English file

• human-readable file

Answer explanation

A text file contains data that has been encoded as text, using a scheme such as ASCII or Unicode. Even if the file contains numbers, those numbers are stored in the file as a series of characters.

This type of file contains data that has not been converted to text.

• text file

• binary file

• Unicode file

• symbolic file

Answer explanation

You cannot view the contents of a binary file with a text editor. Python allows you to work with text or binary.

When working with this type of file, you can jump directly to any piece of data in the file without reading the data that comes before it.

• ordered access

• binary access

• direct access

• sequential access

Answer explanation

Direct access file (also known as random access file), you can jump "directly" to any piece of data in the file without reading the data that comes before it.

When working with this type of file, you access its data from the beginning of the file to the end of the file.

• ordered access

• binary access

• direct access

• sequential access

Answer explanation

If you want to read a piece of data that is stored at the very end of the file, you have to read all of the data that comes before it. You can not jump directly to a desired piece of data.

This is a small "holding section" in memory that many systems write data to before writing the data to a file.

• buffer

• variable

• virtual file

• temporary file

Answer explanation

In some systems, failure to close an output file can cause a loss of data. This happens because the data that is written to a file is first written to a buffer (holding section). When the buffer is full, the system writes the buffer's content to the file.

This marks the location of the next item that will be read from a file.

• input position

• delimiter

• pointer

• read position

Answer explanation

A file's read position marks the location of the next item that will be read from the file. When an input file is opened, its read position is initially set to the first item in the file.