Break vs continue execution difference in Python - Practice Questions

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of break in a loop

What is the output of this Python code using break inside a loop?

Python

for i in range(5):
    if i == 3:
        break
    print(i)

A

0
1
2
3
4

B

1
2
3

C

0
1
2
3

D

0
1
2

💡 Hint

Remember, break stops the loop immediately when the condition is met.

The loop prints numbers from 0 up to but not including 3. When i == 3, the break stops the loop, so 3 is not printed.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of continue in a loop

What is the output of this Python code using continue inside a loop?

Python

for i in range(5):
    if i == 3:
        continue
    print(i)

A

0
1
2
4

B

0
1
2
3
4

C

0
1
2
3

D

1
2
3
4

💡 Hint

Think about what continue does: it skips the current loop iteration.

The loop prints numbers from 0 to 4 but skips printing 3 because continue skips the rest of the loop body when i == 3.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

Difference between break and continue

Which statement correctly describes the difference between break and continue in loops?

A <code>break</code> and <code>continue</code> both exit the loop immediately.

B <code>break</code> exits the entire loop; <code>continue</code> skips to the next iteration.

C <code>break</code> skips the current iteration; <code>continue</code> exits the loop.

D <code>break</code> pauses the loop; <code>continue</code> restarts the loop from the beginning.

💡 Hint

Think about what happens to the loop after each keyword is executed.

break stops the whole loop immediately. continue skips the rest of the current loop cycle and moves to the next one.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Loop behavior with break and continue combined

What is the output of this code that uses both break and continue?

Python

for i in range(6):
    if i == 2:
        continue
    if i == 4:
        break
    print(i)

A

0
1
3

B

0
1
2
3

C

0
1
3
4

D

0
1
2
3
4

💡 Hint

Check the order of conditions and what each keyword does.

When i == 2, continue skips printing 2. When i == 4, break stops the loop. So printed numbers are 0, 1, and 3.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Effect of break and continue in nested loops

In nested loops, which statement is true about break and continue?

A <code>break</code> exits all loops; <code>continue</code> skips all remaining iterations of all loops.

B <code>break</code> and <code>continue</code> affect only the outermost loop.

C <code>break</code> exits only the innermost loop; <code>continue</code> skips to the next iteration of the innermost loop.

D <code>break</code> skips the current iteration of the outer loop; <code>continue</code> exits the inner loop.

💡 Hint

Think about which loop the keywords apply to when loops are inside each other.

Both break and continue affect only the loop they are directly inside, usually the innermost loop.