Question 81 markMCQSection A

$If L is a list with 6 elements, then which of the following statements will raise an exception ?$

Q: If L is a list with 6 elements, then which of the following statements will raise an exception ?

**Option B — `L.pop(6)`** raises an exception, because a list L with 6 elements has valid indices only from 0 to 5; index 6 is out of range for pop().

Review of Python Basics (Class XI Recap)

Lists — pop() and insert() Methods

Options

(A)

L.pop(1)

(B)

L.pop(6)

(C)

L.insert(1,6)

(D)

L.insert(6,1)

Official answer

Option B — L.pop(6) raises an exception, because a list L with 6 elements has valid indices only from 0 to 5; index 6 is out of range for pop().

list pop()

list insert()

IndexError

list methods

index out of range

Python lists

Marking scheme

1. $1 mark: for correctly selecting option B.$

Hint

$pop() needs a valid EXISTING index and raises IndexError if out of range; insert() never raises IndexError — it just clamps to a valid position.$

Quick oral answer

$L.pop(6) raises an exception because a 6-element list only has valid indices 0 to 5; insert(), unlike pop(), never raises IndexError since it clamps out-of-range indices to the end of the list.$

Common mistakes

1. $Assuming insert() behaves like pop() and raises an error for out-of-range indices.$
2. $Forgetting that valid indices for a 6-element list only go up to 5, not 6.$

Analysis and explanation

This question tests the boundary behaviour of list methods pop() and insert(), which behave differently when given an out-of-range index. Concept For a list L with 6 elements, valid (0-based) indices are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. pop(index) REMOVES and returns the element at that index — it strictly requires a valid existing index, else it raises IndexError: pop index out of range . insert(index, value) INSERTS a new value at that position — it never raises an error for out-of-range indices; if the index exceeds the list's length, Python simply inserts the value at the end. Option-by-option check A: L.pop(1) — index 1 is valid (0 to 5); works fine. B: L.pop(6) — index 6 does NOT exist (max valid index is 5); raises IndexError . This is the correct answer. C: L.insert(1,6) — inserts value 6 at index 1; valid, no error. D: L.insert(6,1) — index 6 is beyond the last valid index, but insert() clamps out-of-range indices and simply appends the value at the end; no error. Exam trap Students often assume insert() will also raise an error like pop() for an out-of-range index — but insert() is designed to be error-tolerant and always succeeds by clamping to the nearest valid position.

Interesting facts

$insert() with an index far beyond the list length (e.g., L.insert(100, 'x')) still works without error — it just appends the value at the very end.$

$pop() with no argument at all removes and returns the LAST element of the list, equivalent to pop(-1).$

Question details

Q8 of 48 questions

Board: CBSE
Class: Class 12
Subject: Computer Science
Year: 2026
Section: Section A
Marks: 1
Type: MCQ
Chapter: Review of Python Basics (Class XI Recap)
Topic: $Lists — pop() and insert() Methods$
Bloom's level: apply
Syllabus topic: $Unit 1: Computational Thinking and Programming - 2 — Lists: pop() and insert() Methods, IndexError$
Author: CBSE
Reviewed by: Padhantu Academic Team

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Frequently asked questions

$Does insert() ever raise an IndexError in Python?$

$No. insert() never raises an IndexError for out-of-range indices — if the given index exceeds the list length, the value is simply inserted (appended) at the end of the list.$

$What error does pop() raise for an invalid index?$

$It raises `IndexError: pop index out of range` when the given index does not correspond to an existing element in the list.$