COBOL Online Quiz

Following quiz provides Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) related to COBOL Framework. You will have to read all the given answers and click over the correct answer. If you are not sure about the answer then you can check the answer using Show Answer button. You can use Next Quiz button to check new set of questions in the quiz.

Q 1 - What is the maximum size of a numeric field we can define in COBOL?

Answer : B

Explanation

COBOL applications use 31 digit numeric fields. However, compiler only supports a maximum of 18 digits. So we use a maximum of 18 digits.

Q 2 - How many times following loop will execute?

MOVE 5 TO X.
PERFORM X TIMES.
MOVE 10 TO X.
END-PERFORM.

Answer : B

Explanation

PERFORM loop will execute for 5 times. As it reads the first statement PERFORM 5 times. It replaces X with the value 5.

You can try same code using Try it option available below:

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. HELLO.

DATA DIVISION.
   WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
   01 X PIC 99.

PROCEDURE DIVISION.
   MOVE 5 TO X.
   PERFORM X TIMES
   MOVE 10 TO X
   DISPLAY 'COUNT'
   END-PERFORM.
   STOP RUN.

Q 3 - Which of the numeric literal is invalid?

Answer : B

Explanation

10.9- is invalid because sign can not be mentioned on the right.

Q 4 - What is the output of following program?

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. HELLO.

DATA DIVISION.
   WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
   01 WS-ID PIC 9(5).
   
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
   A000-FIRST-PARA.
   INITIALIZE WS-ID REPLACING NUMERIC DATA BY 12345.
   DISPLAY WS-ID.
   
STOP RUN.

A - 00000

B - 12345

C - Spaces

D - Compilation error

Answer : B

Explanation

WS-ID will be initialized and numeric data will be replaced by 12345 as mentioned in the statement.

You can try same code using Try it option available below:

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. HELLO.

DATA DIVISION.
   WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
   01 WS-ID PIC 9(5).
   
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
   A000-FIRST-PARA.
   INITIALIZE WS-ID REPLACING NUMERIC DATA BY 12345.
   DISPLAY WS-ID.
   
STOP RUN.

Q 5 - What is the output of following program?

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. HELLO.

DATA DIVISION.
   WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
   01 WS-DESCRIPTION.
   05 WS-NUM.
   10 WS-NUM1 PIC 9(2) VALUE 20.
   10 WS-NUM2 PIC 9(2) VALUE 56.
   05 WS-CHAR.
   10 WS-CHAR1 PIC X(2) VALUE 'AA'.
   10 WS-CHAR2 PIC X(2) VALUE 'BB'.
   10 WS-RENAME RENAMES WS-NUM2 THRU WS-CHAR2.

PROCEDURE DIVISION.
   DISPLAY "WS-RENAME : " WS-RENAME.
   
STOP RUN.

A - 56AABB

B - Compilation Error

C - Space

D - Zeroes

Answer : B

Explanation

This program will give compilation error as Renames should be defined at 66 level number.

You can try same code using Try it option available below:

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. HELLO.

DATA DIVISION.
   WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
   01 WS-DESCRIPTION.
   05 WS-NUM.
   10 WS-NUM1 PIC 9(2) VALUE 20.
   10 WS-NUM2 PIC 9(2) VALUE 56.
   05 WS-CHAR.
   10 WS-CHAR1 PIC X(2) VALUE 'AA'.
   10 WS-CHAR2 PIC X(2) VALUE 'BB'.
   10 WS-RENAME RENAMES WS-NUM2 THRU WS-CHAR2.

PROCEDURE DIVISION.
   DISPLAY "WS-RENAME : " WS-RENAME.
   
STOP RUN.

Q 6 - What is the output of following program?

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. HELLO.

DATA DIVISION.
   WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
   01 WS-CNT PIC 9(2) VALUE 0.
   01 WS-STRING PIC X(15) VALUE 'AABCDACDAAEAAAF'.
   
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
   INSPECT WS-STRING TALLYING WS-CNT FOR ALL 'A'.
   DISPLAY WS-CNT
   
STOP RUN.

Answer : C

Explanation

Inspect statement will count the number of 'A' in the string and will put the value in WS-CNT.

You can try same code using Try it option available below:

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. HELLO.

DATA DIVISION.
   WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
   01 WS-CNT PIC 9(2) VALUE 0.
   01 WS-STRING PIC X(15) VALUE 'AABCDACDAAEAAAF'.
   
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
   INSPECT WS-STRING TALLYING WS-CNT FOR ALL 'A'.
   DISPLAY WS-CNT
   
STOP RUN.

Q 7 - Which command is used to place the cursor on a specific record?

Answer : B

Explanation

Start verb can be performed only on indexed and relative files. It is used to place the file pointer at a specific record. The access mode must be sequential or dynamic. File must be opened in I-O or Input mode.

Q 8 - If usage is display, data item is stored in ASCII format and each character will take 1 byte. It is default usage. State whether true or false?

A - False

B - True

Answer : B

Explanation

This statement is correct.

Q 9 - What is the output of following program?

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. HELLO.

DATA DIVISION.
   WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
   01 WS-STRING PIC A(30) VALUE 'WELCOME TO TUTORIALSPOINT'.
   01 WS-STR1 PIC A(7).
   01 WS-STR2 PIC A(2).
   01 WS-STR3 PIC A(15).
   01 WS-COUNT PIC 99 VALUE 1.

PROCEDURE DIVISION.
   UNSTRING WS-STRING DELIMITED BY SPACE
      INTO WS-STR1, WS-STR2, WS-STR3
   END-UNSTRING.
   
   DISPLAY WS-STR2.
   
STOP RUN.

Answer : B

Explanation

Unstring verb is used to split one string into multiple sub-strings.

You can try same code using Try it option available below:

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. HELLO.

DATA DIVISION.
   WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
   01 WS-STRING PIC A(30) VALUE 'WELCOME TO TUTORIALSPOINT'.
   01 WS-STR1 PIC A(7).
   01 WS-STR2 PIC A(2).
   01 WS-STR3 PIC A(15).
   01 WS-COUNT PIC 99 VALUE 1.

PROCEDURE DIVISION.
   UNSTRING WS-STRING DELIMITED BY SPACE
      INTO WS-STR1, WS-STR2, WS-STR3
   END-UNSTRING.
   
   DISPLAY WS-STR2.
   
STOP RUN.

Q 10 - Elementary items cannot be divided further. Level number, Data name, Picture clause and Value clause (optional) are used to describe an elementary item. State whether true or false?

A - True

B - False

Answer : A

Explanation

This statement is correct.

cobol_questions_answers.htm