Logics Test
This test is designed to measure general technical and logistical skills. For this reason, it
employs a language with which you are unlikely to be familiar. All information about the
language necessary to complete the test is contained within the test itself.
Each page of the test contains a description of a language feature or characteristic, along with
a question that tests your understanding of that feature or characteristic. Subsequent
questions build upon features and descriptions in earlier parts of the test, which sometimes
need to be applied in a complex way. There are no trick questions, although there are subtle
applications of the information contained in the description portions. There is only one
correct answer to each question.
This test takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete. Please write your answers on the
answer sheet provided. Work out your solutions on the blank sheets attached to the end of
this test.
QUESTION #1: Numeric Constants
Numeric constants are integers which range in magnitude from 0 to 999999999999999 and
may be signed or unsigned. Examples of numeric constants are:
0 -13 1300 1 14567
Some invalid numeric constants are:
1.2 not an integer
$1 not numeric
1000000000000000 too large
Question: Which of the following is not a legal numeric constant?
A. 10.2
B. -0
C. 00000007
D. 89
QUESTION #2: String Constants
A string constant is a sequence of 0 to 255 characters chosen from the standard ASCII 64
character set.
Any legal character (alpha or numeric) may be used as a string and is designated as such
when included in quotation marks (i.e. "ABC").
A string constant can also consist of zero characters (that is, quotation marks around no
characters), which is referred to as the "nill" or "null" string. Some examples are:
"ABCDEF" "123456" "!!!$$" ""
When string constants are read in or written out, the quotation marks are omitted.
Question: What kind of a constant is this: "4"
A. Numeric
B. String
C. I can't tell - it could be either string or numeric
QUESTION #3: Variable Names
A constant retains its value, by definition. The value of a variable may be changed in the
course of a program. A variable may take on any value that is allowable for either a string or
numeric constant.
Unlike some other programming languages (e.g. FORTRAN), the type of variable is not
determined by the name or any kind of declaration. Variable names are in the format of 1
alphabetic character, followed by any number of other alphanumeric characters. Here are
some examples of acceptable variable names:
A ABC A12 A0
If a variable is set equal to a string value, such as "##$", it will be a string variable. The very
same variable may be converted to a numeric variable by setting it to a numeric constant.
Question: Which of the following variable names can have a string value?
A. STG
B. S3
C. I
D. A and B (above)
E. A and C (above)
F. B and C (above)
G. A, B and C (above)
H. None of the above.
QUESTION #4: Arrays
In addition to scalar variables, there are also single dimension arrays, among others. The
rules for naming arrays are the same as the rules for naming variables.
Unlike almost all other programming languages, there is no need (and no capability) for
declaring array dimension. An element of an array is undefined until you put something into
it. The only space used in the system is for those array elements which are defined. There is
also no restriction on the data types of different array elements. Thus, you can have string
and numeric values within the same array.
Suppose the only variables defined are:
A = 0
A(0) = 1
A(1) = 32767
A(100) = "NINETY-NINE"
A(32767) = "THIS IS A STRING"
Question: What is the value of A(A(A+1))?
A. 0
B. 32767
C. 1
D. “THIS IS A STRING”
E. Undefined
QUESTION #5: Numeric Arithmetic Operators
Operators connect constants and variables to form expressions. The arithmetic operators
include:
+ Addition 1+2=3
- Subtraction 3-2=1
* Multiplication 2*3=6
/ Division 3/2=1 (Integer division only)
& Minimum 2&3=2
! Maximum 2!3=3
# Modulo 13#5=3 (Remainder after division)
An important feature of these, and all operators, is that evaluation in an expression takes
place STRICTLY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. Parentheses may be used to group parts as in
algebra.
The & (minimum), ! (maximum), and # (modulo) operators are probably less familiar than the
other four operators. Below are some examples of how they can be used:
X#10 = Remainder of X/10
X&10 = X if X is less than 10, otherwise 10
X!10 = X if X is greater than 10, otherwise 10
X!1&10 = X if X is between 1 and 10, 1 is X is less than 1,
and 10 if X is greater than 10
-X!X = Positive value of X
Question: Now for an example. What is 1+1*3/2+7#12?
A. 9
B. 7
C. 0
D. 10
E. -131071
F. None of the above
QUESTION #6: Numeric Comparison Operators
There are three operators for comparing numbers:
< Less than
> Greater than
= Equals
You can combine arithmetic and comparison operators in an expression. True evaluates to
the "rubout" character (binary, all ones), and False evaluates to "" (nill). Thus, 1+2=3
evaluates to "rubout" and 1+3<2 evaluates to "" (nill).
Question: Suppose A is a variable with a non-zero numeric value. Which of the
following is false?
A. A + A=A*2
B. (A#A)>(A/A)
C. A*A>0
D. A#A=0
QUESTION #7: Boolean And
Simple in concept, though sometimes complicated in practice, are the Boolean operators &
(AND), ! (OR), and ' (NOT). The symbol & is the Boolean operator for ANDing.
If applied against logical "true" and "false" statements, both statements must be "true" in
order for the AND statement to be true. That is, if the variables A and B are both true, the
statement A&B is true, while if either A or B (or both A and B) are false, the statement A&B is
false.
Question: Assume the variable A is true, the variable B is true, and the variable C is false.
Which of the following is false?
A. A&B&C
B. B&B
C. A&B
D. None of the above
QUESTION #8: Boolean Or
The ! is used as the Boolean OR operator.
The logical OR appears between two values or expressions. If either expression is true, the
entire statement is evaluated as true. For example, in the expression A!B if either variable is
true (or if both variables are true), the expression is evaluated as true.
Question: Assume that the variable A is true, the variable B is true, and the variable C is
false. Which of the following is false?
A. A!C
B. A&C!B
C. C!C!B
D. All of the above
E. None of the above
QUESTION #9: Boolean Not
The operator ' (apostrophe) is used to represent the Boolean NOT. If it is applied to an integer
or variable it re-evaluates that integer or variable to a "nill" (note, not a zero).
Question: If you were asked for '17 you would answer:
A. True
B. “ “
C. 0
D. 14
E. 17
F. 10001
QUESTION #10: Not Again
The NOT can also be used to modify comparison operators, e.g. 1'>2 (one not greater than
two), 2'<1, 1'=2, and A#B'>B are true.
Question: Which of the following is false?
A. ‘(A=A)
B. A’<A
C. A’=(‘A)
D. ‘A’=A
QUESTION #11: Unary Operators
The - (minus) and the ' (not) are also referred to as "Unary" operators and may be used in
arithmetic expressions. When used in this way, they apply to the value immediately to their
right, BEFORE it is evaluated in the expression.
In arithmetic expressions, the "nill" string is evaluated as a zero, while in logical expressions it
is evaluated as a false. For example, the expression '1 is evaluated as a nill; when it is used in
the arithmetic expression 1+'1 the value of the expression would be 1, but when used logically
in the expression 0='1, the expression is false.
Other examples:
-3=-3 '1="" '10+0=0 2+3+'3*-3=-15
Question: One of the expressions below is false, which one?
A. 4+’4=’4+4
B. ‘(‘5)=5
C. 1+’(-3)’>4
D. -5-5=2+’8*-5
E. 1!2!4!8&’15+0=0
QUESTION #12: String Concatenation
Concatenation means linking together in a series or chain The period (.) is the concatenation
operator.
For example:
"HI "."THERE" is the same as "HI THERE"
"HI"." THERE" is the same as "HI THERE"
Question: If GOD has the value "HOLY" and HOH has the value "WATER", how do you
make "HOLY WATER"?
A. GOD.WATER
B. HOLY.WATER
C. HOLY." ".WATER
D. GODHOH
E. .GOD.HOLY
F. GOD.” “. HOH
G. GOD.HOH
H. GOD.. HOH
QUESTION #13: Integer Concatenation
You can also concatenate integers. For example:
5.5 = 55 678.910 = 678910
Question: What is the value of 1.2+3.4?
A. 0
B. 4.6
C. 46
D. 154
E. 1234
F. Not allowed - illegal syntax
QUESTION #14: Data Conversion
You can mix integers and non-integers in a single expression. For
example:
123."A"="123A" "4A"+123=127 "5.5"+5=10
Non-integers are converted to integers as required by the operators. The non-integer converts
to an integer starting with the leftmost character and continuing until encountering a nonnumeric
character. In the second example above, "4A" converts to 4; in the third example,
"5.5" converts to 5.
Question: What is the value of "1.2"+3.4?
A. 4.4
B. 4.6
C. 44
D. 46.2
E. 154
F. None of the above