Answer: Python Puzzler #3389

The answer is B. The program prints:

MP

This answer was checked by running the program for real.

Why?

word[2:4] is a slice: it starts at position 2 and stops before position 4. Positions count from 0.

Trace table

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

positionletter
0C
1O
2M
3P
4U
5T
6E
7R

The code again

word = "COMPUTER"
print(word[2:4])

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