Answer: Python Puzzler #2518

The answer is C. The program prints:

plum

This answer was checked by running the program for real.

Why?

Python counts list positions from 0, so position 2 is the third item.

Trace table

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

positionnegative positionitem
0-4mango
1-3apple
2-2plum
3-1carrot

The code again

basket = ["mango", "apple", "plum", "carrot"]
print(basket[2])

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