C Programming Basics - Questions and Answers

Fill in the Blanks
Short Answer Questions
Long Answer Questions
Programming Assignments

1. Fill in the blanks

a. C is the only high-level programming language ……… (TRUE/FALSE)

FALSE

b. IDE stands for ……………

Integrated Development Environment

c. We always need a very powerful computer to run C programs ……… (TRUE/FALSE)

FALSE

d. Every statement in a C program has to end with ……………

semicolon (;)

e. Execution of a program starts from ……………

main() function

2. Short answer questions (Answers should preferably be of 2-3 lines)

a. While writing a computer program, what does a programmer need to assume about the cpu and storage?

A programmer needs to assume that the CPU can execute instructions sequentially and that there is sufficient storage (memory) available to store the program and data. The programmer also assumes that the CPU can perform basic arithmetic and logical operations.

b. Do we always need Codeblock to write C programs? Explain.

No, we don't always need Codeblocks to write C programs. C programs can be written using any text editor and compiled using a C compiler like GCC. Codeblocks is just one of many Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) available for C programming.

c. Why do we need header files? Name a few standard header files in C.

Header files contain function declarations, macro definitions, and other necessary information that programs need to use standard library functions. They help in code organization and reusability. Some standard header files in C are: stdio.h, stdlib.h, math.h, string.h, and ctype.h.

3. Long answer questions (Answers should preferably be of 5-6 lines)

a. Explain the process of compilation of a C program. When we save a C program with the name Namaskar.c, what files will be created at each step of compilation?

The compilation process of a C program involves four main steps: preprocessing, compilation, assembly, and linking. In preprocessing, header files are included and macros are expanded, creating Namaskar.i. In compilation, the preprocessed code is converted to assembly code, creating Namaskar.s. In assembly, the assembly code is converted to machine code, creating Namaskar.o. Finally, in linking, all object files and libraries are combined to create the executable file, typically Namaskar.exe on Windows or a.out on Unix/Linux systems.

b. Can we compile an erroneous code in C? If we do not write the function main() in our C program, will it compile successfully?

We can compile code with warnings, but code with syntax errors will not compile successfully. If we don't write the main() function in our C program, the code may compile but will not link successfully to create an executable. The main() function is the entry point of every C program, and without it, the linker will generate an error because it cannot find the starting point for program execution.

c. What is a programmer's view of memory? Is it different from actual memory? Explain briefly.

A programmer's view of memory is abstract and logical, organized as variables, arrays, structures, and pointers. Programmers see memory as a linear array of bytes that can be allocated and deallocated as needed. This view is different from actual physical memory, which has complex hierarchical organization including cache, RAM, and virtual memory. The operating system and compiler handle the mapping between the programmer's logical view and the physical memory implementation, allowing programmers to work without worrying about physical memory details.

4. Programming assignments

a. Write and execute a C program to print your name.
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    printf("Your Name");
    return 0;
}
b. Write and execute a C program to print your name and your mother's name in two different lines but using a single printf.
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    printf("Your Name\nMother's Name");
    return 0;
}
c. Write and execute a C program to print the sentence "I am from Assam. I am a responsible citizen of my country." five times.
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    int i;
    for(i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
        printf("I am from Assam. I am a responsible citizen of my country.\n");
    }
    return 0;
}
d. Remove the semicolons (;) from the C program of the previous question. Compile the program and check the errors. Note the line numbers and then rectify them.

After removing semicolons, the compiler will generate syntax errors at the lines where semicolons were removed. The specific line numbers will depend on the implementation, but typically errors will occur at:

  • The line with the for loop statement (missing semicolon in loop condition)
  • The line with the printf statement (missing semicolon at end of statement)
  • The line with return statement (missing semicolon)

To rectify, add semicolons at the end of each statement as shown in the correct code above.

e. Write and execute a C program to print your name in the order Last name First name. But you will pass them in First name Last name order inside printf [Hint: use proper escape sequence].
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    printf("Lastname\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\bFirstname");
    return 0;
}

Note: The number of backspace characters (\b) should match the number of characters in "Lastname" to properly position "Firstname" before it.