Logical reasoning in daily decisions in Intro to Computing - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to check if it is raining and you need an umbrella.

Intro to Computing

if is_raining [1]:
    print("Take an umbrella.")

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Ais False

B== True

C!=

Dis None

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '!=' will check for not raining, which is opposite.

Using 'is None' checks for no value, not raining.

We check if is_raining is True to decide if we need an umbrella.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to decide if you should carry a jacket based on temperature.

Intro to Computing

if temperature [1] 20:
    print("Carry a jacket.")

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A<

B==

C>

D>=

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '>' means carrying a jacket when it's warm.

Using '==' only checks for exactly 20 degrees.

If the temperature is less than 20 degrees, it's cold, so carry a jacket.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to decide if you should take a break based on tiredness.

Intro to Computing

if tiredness [1] 7:
    print("Take a break.")

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A>=

B=>

C<=

D==

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '=>' causes syntax error.

Using '<=' checks for less tiredness, opposite logic.

The correct operator to check if tiredness is greater than or equal to 7 is '>='.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a decision that checks if you should go outside based on weather and time.

Intro to Computing

if weather [1] "sunny" and time [2] 18:
    print("Go outside.")

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A==

B>

C<

D!=

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '!=' for weather means not sunny, opposite logic.

Using '>' for time means after 6 PM, opposite logic.

You go outside if the weather is exactly 'sunny' and the time is before 18 (6 PM).

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a dictionary comprehension that maps tasks to their priority if priority is above 3.

Intro to Computing

high_priority_tasks = [1]: [2] for [3] in tasks.items() if [2] > 3

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Atask

Bpriority

Dtask, priority

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Mixing up keys and values.

Using 'tasks' as loop variable instead of 'task'.

The dictionary comprehension uses task as key, priority as value, and iterates over tasks.items().

Practice

1. Which of the following best describes logical reasoning in daily decisions?

easy

A. Doing the opposite of what is suggested

B. Making choices step-by-step using IF-THEN-ELSE thinking

C. Ignoring all options and guessing

D. Choosing randomly without thinking

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand logical reasoning

   Logical reasoning means making decisions by checking conditions step-by-step, like asking "If this, then that".

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Making choices step-by-step using IF-THEN-ELSE thinking clearly explains this step-by-step IF-THEN-ELSE thinking, while others describe random or opposite actions.

3. Final Answer:

   Making choices step-by-step using IF-THEN-ELSE thinking -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Logical reasoning = step-by-step IF-THEN-ELSE [OK]

Hint: Look for step-by-step decision making [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing logical reasoning with guessing
• Ignoring the IF-THEN-ELSE structure
• Thinking random choice is logical reasoning

2. Which of these is the correct way to express a simple decision in programming logic?

easy

A. do_something if condition else do_something_else

B. if condition then do_something else do_something_else

C. if do_something then condition else do_something_else

D. condition if do_something else do_something_else

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct IF-THEN-ELSE syntax

   In many programming languages like Python, the correct syntax for a simple decision expression is: do_something if condition else do_something_else.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   do_something if condition else do_something_else matches the correct syntax used in Python. if condition then do_something else do_something_else uses 'then' which is not valid syntax in Python. Options C and D mix order incorrectly.

3. Final Answer:

   do_something if condition else do_something_else -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Python conditional expression syntax = do_something if condition else do_something_else [OK]

Hint: Remember Python's conditional expression: action if condition else alternative [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'then' keyword in Python
• Swapping condition and action order
• Mixing condition with actions

3. Consider this flowchart for deciding whether to take an umbrella:

What is the correct decision if it is raining?

medium

A. Wait and see

B. Don't take an umbrella

C. Take an umbrella

D. Call a friend

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the flowchart condition

   The flowchart asks: "Is it raining?" If yes, the arrow points to "Take umbrella".

2. Step 2: Follow the decision path for 'Yes'

   Since it is raining, the decision is to take an umbrella.

3. Final Answer:

   Take an umbrella -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Raining? Yes -> Take umbrella [OK]

Hint: Follow the 'Yes' path for raining [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing the 'No' path by mistake
• Ignoring the flowchart arrows
• Overthinking the simple question

4. You have this decision logic:

if hungry:
    eat()
else:
    wait()

But the code gives an error. What is the most likely problem?

medium

A. The else statement should come before if

B. The functions eat() and wait() are spelled wrong

C. The colon ':' is missing after if and else

D. The condition 'hungry' is not defined or missing value

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the condition variable

   The condition 'hungry' must be defined as True or False before use; otherwise, it causes an error.

2. Step 2: Review other syntax elements

   Functions and colons look correct; else cannot come before if.

3. Final Answer:

   The condition 'hungry' is not defined or missing value -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Undefined condition causes error [OK]

Hint: Ensure condition variables are defined before use [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming function names cause error
• Thinking else can come before if
• Missing colons (not the main error here)

5. You want to decide what to wear based on weather:

if temperature < 10:
    wear('coat')
elif temperature < 20:
    wear('jacket')
else:
    wear('t-shirt')

If the temperature is 15, what will you wear?

hard

A. jacket

B. coat

C. t-shirt

D. nothing

Solution

1. Step 1: Check temperature against first condition

   15 is not less than 10, so skip the first if block.

2. Step 2: Check temperature against elif condition

   15 is less than 20, so wear('jacket') is executed.

3. Final Answer:

   jacket -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   15 < 20 but >= 10 means jacket [OK]

Hint: Check conditions top to bottom until one matches [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing coat because 15 is close to 10
• Choosing t-shirt ignoring elif
• Not understanding elif means else if