Given the code fragment: List<String> fls = new ArrayList<>(); fls.add("jasmine"); fls.add("rose"); fls.add("lotus"); fls.remove(2); fls.set(2, "lily"); System.out.println(fls); What is the result?

Question

Options

• A[jasmine, rose, lily]
• BA runtime exception is thrown.
• C[jasmine, lily, lotus]
• D[jasmine, rose, lotus, lily]

• A
  12% (4)
• B
  76% (25)
• C
  6% (2)
• D
  6% (2)

Explanation

After fls.remove(2) successfully removes "lotus" at index 2, the list contains only two elements - ["jasmine", "rose"] - with valid indices 0 and 1. The subsequent fls.set(2, "lily") attempts to assign to index 2, which no longer exists, causing an IndexOutOfBoundsException at runtime.

Why the distractors fail:

• A assumes set(2, "lily") succeeds, but the list only has indices 0–1 at that point.
• C assumes the operations are reordered (set before remove) - the code runs top-to-bottom, so this is impossible.
• D confuses set() (replaces an element) with add() (appends one); even if the index were valid, it would replace, not append.

Memory tip: Think of remove(index) as "the list collapses" - indices above the removed position shift down and the list shrinks by one. Any index that was the last valid one before the remove becomes out-of-bounds immediately after.

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