Answer: Python Puzzler #2542

The answer is D. The program prints:

carrot

This answer was checked by running the program for real.

Why?

A negative position counts from the end: -1 is the last item, -2 the one before it. So -4 means item number 4 from the end.

Trace table

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

positionnegative positionitem
0-5plum
1-4carrot
2-3mango
3-2grape
4-1melon

The code again

basket = ["plum", "carrot", "mango", "grape", "melon"]
print(basket[-4])

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