Common Lisp Basic Programming Test

1. What does Lisp stand for?

Listening protocol

List processing

Little performance

Logical process

Lisp stands for List processing. Lisp is a programming language that was developed in the late 1950s and is known for its unique data structure called a list. It is designed to manipulate and process lists of data efficiently, making it a powerful tool for tasks such as symbolic processing, artificial intelligence, and language processing. The other options, listening protocol, little performance, and logical process, do not accurately represent the acronym Lisp.

Explanation

Lisp stands for List processing. Lisp is a programming language that was developed in the late 1950s and is known for its unique data structure called a list. It is designed to manipulate and process lists of data efficiently, making it a powerful tool for tasks such as symbolic processing, artificial intelligence, and language processing. The other options, listening protocol, little performance, and logical process, do not accurately represent the acronym Lisp.

2. What is Lisp popularly used for?

Artificial Intelligence

Search engines

Mobile apps

Web design

Lisp is popularly used for Artificial Intelligence because it is a programming language that supports the development of complex algorithms and logic. Lisp's flexibility and powerful features, such as its ability to manipulate symbolic expressions and support for recursion, make it well-suited for tasks related to AI, such as natural language processing, expert systems, and machine learning. Lisp's rich history in AI research and its focus on symbolic processing have contributed to its popularity in this field.

Explanation

Lisp is popularly used for Artificial Intelligence because it is a programming language that supports the development of complex algorithms and logic. Lisp's flexibility and powerful features, such as its ability to manipulate symbolic expressions and support for recursion, make it well-suited for tasks related to AI, such as natural language processing, expert systems, and machine learning. Lisp's rich history in AI research and its focus on symbolic processing have contributed to its popularity in this field.

3. Strings are characters enclosed in which of these?

“”

[]

()

Strings are characters enclosed in double quotation marks (""). This is the correct answer because in programming languages, strings are typically defined by enclosing a sequence of characters within double quotation marks.

Explanation

Strings are characters enclosed in double quotation marks (""). This is the correct answer because in programming languages, strings are typically defined by enclosing a sequence of characters within double quotation marks.

4. Who was the founder of Lisp?

Jamie McCarthy

John McCarthy

Jack McCarthy

Jacen McCarthy

John McCarthy is the correct answer because he is widely recognized as the founder of Lisp, a programming language that was developed in the late 1950s. McCarthy, an American computer scientist, played a crucial role in the development of artificial intelligence and was instrumental in the creation of Lisp, which became one of the most influential programming languages in the field. His contributions to the field of computer science and his work on Lisp have had a lasting impact on the industry.

Explanation

John McCarthy is the correct answer because he is widely recognized as the founder of Lisp, a programming language that was developed in the late 1950s. McCarthy, an American computer scientist, played a crucial role in the development of artificial intelligence and was instrumental in the creation of Lisp, which became one of the most influential programming languages in the field. His contributions to the field of computer science and his work on Lisp have had a lasting impact on the industry.

5. Which of the following LISP expressions correctly defines a function that takes two arguments, adds them together, and then multiplies the result by 3?

(defun add-and-multiply (x y) (mult 3 (plus x y)))

(defun add-and-multiply (x y) (* 3 (+ x y)))

(defun add-and-multiply (x y) (3 * (x + y)))

(defun add-and-multiply (x y) (multiply 3 (add x y)))

Option B correctly uses the LISP syntax to define a function where * is the multiplication operator and + is the addition operator. Option A uses incorrect function names "mult" and "plus" instead of the correct * and +. Option C has incorrect syntax as LISP requires prefix notation (operators before operands). Option D uses incorrect function names "multiply" and "add" instead of the correct * and +.

Explanation

Option B correctly uses the LISP syntax to define a function where * is the multiplication operator and + is the addition operator. Option A uses incorrect function names "mult" and "plus" instead of the correct * and +. Option C has incorrect syntax as LISP requires prefix notation (operators before operands). Option D uses incorrect function names "multiply" and "add" instead of the correct * and +.

6. What is a sequence?

Vectors and strings

Vectors and scalars

Vectors and lists

Vectors and values

A sequence is a collection of elements that are arranged in a specific order. Vectors and lists are both data structures that can be used to represent sequences. Vectors are one-dimensional arrays that can hold elements of the same data type, while lists are a type of container that can hold elements of different data types. Therefore, the correct answer is "Vectors and lists" because both of these data structures can be used to represent a sequence.

Explanation

A sequence is a collection of elements that are arranged in a specific order. Vectors and lists are both data structures that can be used to represent sequences. Vectors are one-dimensional arrays that can hold elements of the same data type, while lists are a type of container that can hold elements of different data types. Therefore, the correct answer is "Vectors and lists" because both of these data structures can be used to represent a sequence.

7. All of these arguments are needed for defining functions in Lisp except which parameter of function?

Name

Number

Body

Parameter

In Lisp, all of these arguments, namely Name, Number, Body, and Parameter, are needed for defining functions except for the Number parameter. The Name parameter is used to give a unique identifier to the function, the Body parameter contains the actual code of the function, and the Parameter parameter is used to specify the input variables for the function. However, the Number parameter does not play a role in defining functions in Lisp.

Explanation

In Lisp, all of these arguments, namely Name, Number, Body, and Parameter, are needed for defining functions except for the Number parameter. The Name parameter is used to give a unique identifier to the function, the Body parameter contains the actual code of the function, and the Parameter parameter is used to specify the input variables for the function. However, the Number parameter does not play a role in defining functions in Lisp.

8. Which extention is used for Lisp files?

.lsp

.lps

.lisp

.xlsp

The correct answer is .lsp. This file extension is commonly used for Lisp files.

Explanation

The correct answer is .lsp. This file extension is commonly used for Lisp files.

9. Which of these is not a CL symbolic expression?

List

Atom

Value

Strings

In Common Lisp, a symbolic expression is a data structure that represents code or data. It can be either an atom or a list. An atom is a single entity, such as a number or a symbol. A list is a collection of symbolic expressions enclosed in parentheses. In this case, "Value" is not a CL symbolic expression because it is not defined as an atom or a list in the given options.

Explanation

In Common Lisp, a symbolic expression is a data structure that represents code or data. It can be either an atom or a list. An atom is a single entity, such as a number or a symbol. A list is a collection of symbolic expressions enclosed in parentheses. In this case, "Value" is not a CL symbolic expression because it is not defined as an atom or a list in the given options.

10. How many types of data variables are there in Common Lisp?

1

2

3

4

Common Lisp has two types of data variables: lexical variables and special variables. Lexical variables are used within a specific scope and are defined using the "let" or "let*" forms. They are typically used for local computations. Special variables, on the other hand, have dynamic extent and can be accessed and modified globally. They are defined using the "defvar" or "defparameter" forms. These variables are commonly used for configuration settings or global state.

Explanation

Common Lisp has two types of data variables: lexical variables and special variables. Lexical variables are used within a specific scope and are defined using the "let" or "let*" forms. They are typically used for local computations. Special variables, on the other hand, have dynamic extent and can be accessed and modified globally. They are defined using the "defvar" or "defparameter" forms. These variables are commonly used for configuration settings or global state.