Answer: Python Puzzler #2124

The answer is D. The program prints:

Time to recharge!

This answer was checked by running the program for real.

Why?

Python checks the conditions from the top and runs the first one that is true. Is 5 > 16? No. Is 5 > 6? No. Neither was true, so the else part runs.

Trace table

A trace table follows the program step by step. Here’s this one:

questionanswer
battery > 16False
battery > 6False

The code again

battery = 5
if battery > 16:
    print("Full speed ahead!")
elif battery > 6:
    print("Slow and steady.")
else:
    print("Time to recharge!")

Try it: change one number in the program and predict the new output before you run it.