If a list passed into a function as an argument, deleting any of its elements inside the function using the del instruction:

Question

Options

• Awill not affect the argument
• Bwill cause a runtime error
• Cwill affect the argument

• A
  17% (8)
• B
  11% (5)
• C
  72% (33)

Explanation

In Python, lists are passed by reference (technically "pass-by-object-reference"), meaning the function receives a reference to the same list object in memory - so any del operation inside the function directly modifies the original list, making C correct. Option A is wrong because mutations to a mutable object (like a list) are visible outside the function; only reassigning the variable entirely (arg = []) would leave the original untouched. Option B is wrong because deleting a valid list element with del is perfectly legal and raises no runtime error. Memory tip: Think of a list as a shared document - passing it to a function hands someone the same file, not a copy, so deletions stick.

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