350-401 Question #1063: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

Question

Which JSON script is properly formatted? A. B. C. D.

Options

• A["animals": { "type": "horse", "breed": ""Palamino, "color":"tan } ]
• B[ "Vendor": { "type":"wholesale, "location":"on-line, "contact":"646-168-2143 } ]
• C{ [ "subject": { "title":"Language" "ID":"841963" "location":"Main Campus" } ] }
• D{ "plants": [ { "type":"annual", "color":"yellow", "season":"summer" } ] }

Explanation

There appears to be an error in the provided answer key — B is not correct. D is the properly formatted JSON.

Option D uses valid JSON structure: an object {} contains the key "plants", whose value is an array [] of objects, with all strings properly quoted and closed, and commas correctly separating key-value pairs.

Why the others are wrong:

• A — Arrays [] cannot contain key-value pairs (only objects {} can); also has unclosed strings (""Palamino, and "tan).
• B — Same structural error: "Vendor": inside an array is invalid JSON; all string values are also unclosed (missing closing ").
• C — An object cannot directly wrap a bare array without a key; the array again contains a key-value pair, which is invalid; and key-value pairs are missing commas between them.

Memory tip: Think of {} as a dictionary (named keys) and [] as a numbered list (indexed values). You can nest them freely — objects inside arrays, arrays as object values — but you can never put key: value syntax directly inside []. If you see ["key": ...], it's always wrong.

Note for the exam taker: If your answer sheet lists B as correct, flag it — this may be a typo or keying error in the question bank. D is the only syntactically valid option.

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