Answer: Python Puzzler #2734

The answer is D. The program prints:

mango

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
0-5plum
1-4apple
2-3mango
3-2melon
4-1carrot

The code again

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

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