Answer: Python Puzzler #2760

The answer is A. The program prints:

pear

This answer was checked by running the program for real.

Why?

Python counts list positions from 0, so position 3 is the fourth item.

Trace table

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

positionnegative positionitem
0-4melon
1-3grape
2-2apple
3-1pear

The code again

basket = ["melon", "grape", "apple", "pear"]
print(basket[3])

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