Answer: Python Puzzler #2429

The answer is C. The program prints:

apple

This answer was checked by running the program for real.

Why?

Python counts list positions from 0, so position 4 is the fifth item.

Trace table

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

positionnegative positionitem
0-5banana
1-4pear
2-3carrot
3-2grape
4-1apple

The code again

basket = ["banana", "pear", "carrot", "grape", "apple"]
print(basket[4])

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