Pointers in C Language: 18 MCQs

All 18 multiple-choice questions from this kit, free and with no sign-up.

Full kit · everything Flashcards · 20 Quick Revision · 15

Warm-up · 6 questions

Q1. What is a pointer in C?

Beginner

A A data type that stores text

B A keyword that frees memory

C A function that allocates memory

D A variable that stores a memory address

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Q2. Which operator returns the address of a variable?

Beginner

A `*`

B `&`

C `->`

D `%`

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Q3. What does the `*` operator do when applied to a pointer?

Beginner

A Multiplies the pointer by two

B Dereferences it to access the value at that address

C Returns the address of the pointer itself

D Frees the memory the pointer references

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Q4. Which line correctly declares a pointer to an int?

Beginner

A `int p*;`

B `pointer int p;`

C `int &p;`

D `int *p;`

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Q5. In C, an array name in most expressions behaves like:

Beginner

A A pointer to its last element

B A null pointer

C A copy of the whole array

D A pointer to its first element

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Q6. In C, an array name is not a pointer but decays to a pointer to its first element in most expressions.

Beginner

A True

B False

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Building up · 7 questions

Q7. If `int` is 4 bytes, how far does `p + 1` advance for an `int *p`?

Intermediate

A 1 byte

B 4 bytes

C 8 bytes

D 2 bytes

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Q8. Why does `scanf("%d", &x);` need the `&`?

Intermediate

A `&` frees memory before reading

B `scanf` needs the value of `x` to compare

C `scanf` needs the address to store the input into `x`

D `&` converts the input to a string

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Q9. What is the effect of `void increment(int *n) { (*n)++; }` called as `increment(&x);`?

Intermediate

A The program crashes because `x` is not a pointer

B `x` is incremented in the caller

C `x` becomes a pointer

D A copy of `x` is incremented and discarded

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Q10. What does `malloc` return on success?

Intermediate

A A null pointer always

B A pointer to stack memory

C The size of the allocated block

D A pointer to heap memory

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Q11. What is a dangling pointer?

Intermediate

A A pointer that points to the stack

B A pointer that has never been declared

C A pointer that still holds the address of memory already freed

D A pointer that is always `NULL`

Answers and explanations are in the Veda app.

Q12. What does `int **pp;` declare?

Intermediate

A A pointer to a pointer to an int

B An int with two stars in its name

C Two separate int pointers

D A pointer to an array of ints

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Q13. What is wrong with `int *a, b;` if you wanted two pointers?

Intermediate

A Neither `a` nor `b` is a pointer

B Only `a` is a pointer; `b` is an int

C Both `a` and `b` are pointers

D The compiler rejects the line

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Topper level · 5 questions

Q14. Why must you check a pointer for `NULL` before dereferencing?

Advanced

A `NULL` pointers automatically allocate memory

B Checking converts the pointer to an int

C Dereferencing `NULL` is undefined behavior and typically crashes

D `NULL` pointers always point to valid stack memory

Answers and explanations are in the Veda app.

Q15. What is the difference between `*p = &x;` and `p = &x;`?

Advanced

A Both are correct and equivalent

B Both are type errors

C `*p = &x;` is a type error; `p = &x;` is correct

D `p = &x;` is a type error; `*p = &x;` is correct

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Q16. Which statement about `sizeof(arr)` versus `sizeof(ptr)` is correct?

Advanced

A `sizeof(ptr)` gives total array size; `sizeof(arr)` gives pointer size

B `sizeof` cannot be applied to arrays

C `sizeof(arr)` gives total array size; `sizeof(ptr)` gives pointer size

D Both always give the same value

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Q17. Given the following code snippet, what will be the output when `printf("%d", **pp);` is executed? ```c int x = 5; int *p = &x; int **pp = &p; ```

Advanced

A Undefined behavior

B Address of p

C 5

D Address of x

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Q18. Consider the following code segment. What will happen when `free(arr);` is called? ```c int *arr = malloc(10 * sizeof(int)); if (arr != NULL) { for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) { arr[i] = i; } } free(arr); arr[0] = 100; // What is the consequence of this line? ```

Advanced

A The program will run without issues.

B It will cause a memory leak.

C The program will crash.

D The value 100 will be assigned to arr[0].

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