Answer: Python Puzzler #3868

The answer is A. The program prints:

hoot

This answer was checked by running the program for real.

Why?

A dictionary stores pairs: a key and its value. sounds["owl"] looks up the key ‘owl’ and gives back its value.

Trace table

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

keyvalue
dogwoof
cowmoo
owlhoot
catmeow

The code again

sounds = {
    "dog": "woof",
    "cow": "moo",
    "owl": "hoot",
    "cat": "meow",
}
print(sounds["owl"])

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