Chapter 6: MCQs on Pointers in C++ | C++ Programming

Mastering C++ Pointers: Comprehensive MCQs for Enhanced Understanding
Delve into essential C++ pointer concepts with this 30-question MCQ set. Topics include pointers’ basics, pointer variables, arithmetic, arrays, and function pointers—ideal for students and programmers aiming to deepen their skills.

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MCQs

1. What does a pointer store in C++?

• A. The value of a variable
• B. The address of a variable
• C. The data type of a variable
• D. The name of a variable

2. Which symbol is used to declare a pointer variable in C++?

• A. @
• B. $
• C. &
• D. *

3. What is the output of *ptr if ptr is a pointer to an integer variable x?

• A. The address of x
• B. The value stored in x
• C. The data type of x
• D. The size of x

4. How do you declare a pointer to an integer in C++?

• A. int *ptr;
• B. int ptr*;
• C. int &ptr;
• D. int ptr&;

5. Which operator is used to access the address of a variable in C++?

• A. *
• B. &
• C. @
• D. #

6. If ptr is a pointer to int, what does ptr++ do?

• A. Increases the value of ptr by 1
• B. Increases the address in ptr by 1
• C. Moves the pointer to the next integer position
• D. Moves the pointer to the previous integer position

7. What will happen if a pointer with NULL value is dereferenced?

• A. It returns 0
• B. It throws a compile-time error
• C. It causes a segmentation fault
• D. It initializes the pointer

8. Which of the following is the correct way to initialize a pointer variable in C++?

• A. int *ptr = NULL;
• B. int ptr = NULL;
• C. int &ptr = NULL;
• D. int ptr;

9. If ptr points to an integer variable, what is the correct way to change the value of the variable it points to?

• A. ptr = 20;
• B. *ptr = 20;
• C. &ptr = 20;
• D. ptr* = 20;

10. What is the term used when a pointer points to the memory that is no longer allocated?

• A. Null pointer
• B. Dangling pointer
• C. Wild pointer
• D. Constant pointer

11. How do pointers and arrays relate in C++?

• A. Pointers are the same as arrays
• B. An array name acts like a constant pointer
• C. Arrays cannot be used with pointers
• D. Pointers cannot point to arrays

12. If arr is an array, which of the following expressions is equivalent to arr[2]?

• A. *(arr+2)
• B. arr*2
• C. arr(2)
• D. *arr[2]

13. Which type of pointer points to the first element of an array?

• A. Array pointer
• B. Constant pointer
• C. Null pointer
• D. Pointer to an array

14. What is pointer arithmetic in C++?

• A. Performing arithmetic operations with integers
• B. Performing operations on addresses stored in pointers
• C. Changing the data type of a pointer
• D. Assigning values to pointers

15. Which operation is valid for pointer arithmetic?

• A. Adding two pointers
• B. Subtracting an integer from a pointer
• C. Dividing a pointer by an integer
• D. Multiplying a pointer by an integer

16. What does the expression *(ptr + i) represent when ptr points to the start of an array?

• A. ith value in the array
• B. Address of ith element
• C. The entire array
• D. None of the above

17. How do you define a pointer to a function that takes no arguments and returns an integer?

• A. int (*fptr)();
• B. int fptr();
• C. int *fptr();
• D. int fptr(*)();

18. Which of the following statements is true about pointers to functions?

• A. A pointer cannot point to a function
• B. A function cannot return a pointer
• C. A function pointer can store the address of a function
• D. Function pointers cannot be assigned

19. What is the purpose of a const pointer?

• A. To allow the pointer address to be modified
• B. To prevent modification of the pointer address
• C. To prevent modification of the pointed value
• D. Both B and C

20. Which keyword is used to create a pointer that cannot be changed?

• A. const
• B. static
• C. void
• D. new

21. What is the output of the following code if ptr points to an array int arr[] = {1, 2, 3}; and cout << *ptr; is executed?

• A. 0
• B. 1
• C. Address of arr
• D. The whole array

22. Which of the following types of pointers are automatically assigned to avoid dereferencing issues?

• A. Wild pointers
• B. Null pointers
• C. Constant pointers
• D. Uninitialized pointers

23. When is a pointer said to be uninitialized?

• A. When it is set to NULL
• B. When it points to an unknown memory location
• C. When it is assigned a valid address
• D. When it points to 0

24. What will be the result if ++ptr is used on a pointer pointing to an array?

• A. Pointer moves to the next array element
• B. Pointer moves to the previous array element
• C. Pointer value decreases by 1
• D. None of the above

25. Which statement correctly defines a void pointer?

• A. void *ptr;
• B. int void *ptr;
• C. *void ptr;
• D. void ptr;

26. How do you call a function using a function pointer in C++?

• A. *fptr();
• B. fptr->();
• C. (*fptr)();
• D. *fptr;

27. Which of the following statements about pointers is true?

• A. Pointers cannot be compared
• B. A pointer cannot be NULL
• C. The address of a pointer can be obtained using &
• D. Pointers cannot be reassigned

28. How can you declare a pointer to an array in C++?

• A. int *arr_ptr[];
• B. int (*arr_ptr)[];
• C. int arr_ptr[];
• D. int arr_ptr;

29. Which of the following is a valid usage of delete in C++?

• A. delete ptr[];
• B. delete ptr;
• C. delete *ptr;
• D. delete ptr; ptr = NULL;

30. Which of the following expressions is used to assign the address of variable a to pointer ptr?

• A. ptr = a;
• B. ptr = &a;
• C. ptr = *a;
• D. ptr = *&a;

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Answer Key

QNo	Answer
1	B. The address of a variable
2	D. *
3	B. The value stored in x
4	A. int *ptr;
5	B. &
6	C. Moves the pointer to the next integer position
7	C. It causes a segmentation fault
8	A. int *ptr = NULL;
9	B. *ptr = 20;
10	B. Dangling pointer
11	B. An array name acts like a constant pointer
12	A. *(arr+2)
13	D. Pointer to an array
14	B. Performing operations on addresses stored in pointers
15	B. Subtracting an integer from a pointer
16	A. ith value in the array
17	A. int (*fptr)();
18	C. A function pointer can store the address of a function
19	D. Both B and C
20	A. const
21	B. 1
22	B. Null pointers
23	B. When it points to an unknown memory location
24	A. Pointer moves to the next array element
25	A. void *ptr;
26	C. (*fptr)();
27	C. The address of a pointer can be obtained using &
28	B. int (*arr_ptr)[];
29	B. delete ptr;
30	B. ptr = &a;