1 markMCQSection A

Identify the output of the following code snippet :

```python`
`s = "the Truth" print(s.capitalize())`
``

Q: Identify the output of the following code snippet : ```python s = "the Truth" print(s.capitalize()) ```

**Option A — `The truth`** is the correct output, because `str.capitalize()` converts only the first character of the string to uppercase and forces every other character to lowercase.

Review of Python Basics (Class XI Recap)

String Methods — capitalize()

Options

(A)The truth

(B)THE TRUTH

(C)The Truth

(D)the Truth

Official Answer

Option A — The truth is the correct output, because str.capitalize() converts only the first character of the string to uppercase and forces every other character to lowercase.

capitalize()string methodscase conversionPython string functionsuppercaselowercase

Marking Scheme

11 mark: for correctly selecting option A (`The truth`).

Hint

capitalize() makes ONLY the first letter uppercase and forces everything else to lowercase.

Quick Oral Answer

capitalize() uppercases only the first character of the string and lowercases all the rest, so 'the Truth'.capitalize() gives 'The truth'.

Analysis & Explanation

The capitalize() method has a specific two-part behaviour that many students overlook.

Concept

capitalize() converts the first character of the string to uppercase.
It also converts all remaining characters to lowercase, regardless of their original case.
Applied to "the Truth": first char t → T; remaining he Truth → he truth (the capital T in Truth is forced to lowercase).
Result: "The truth".

Why other options are wrong

Option B (THE TRUTH) — this would be the result of .upper(), not .capitalize().
Option C (The Truth) — wrongly assumes only the first letter changes and the rest of the string is left untouched; but capitalize() lowercases everything else too.
Option D (the Truth) — this is the unchanged original string; it ignores that capitalize() does modify the first character.

Exam trap

Students confuse capitalize() (only first char upper, rest lower) with title() (every word's first letter upper).

Common Mistakes

1Confusing capitalize() with title(), which capitalizes the first letter of every word.
2Assuming capitalize() only affects the first letter and leaves the rest of the string unchanged.

Interesting Facts

Python string methods like capitalize(), upper(), lower() always return a NEW string — strings are immutable, so the original string s remains unchanged.

capitalize() was designed to match natural sentence casing, which is why it forces the rest of the string to lowercase, unlike title().

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between capitalize() and title() in Python?

capitalize() uppercases only the first character of the entire string and lowercases the rest; title() uppercases the first letter of every word in the string. For 'the truth of life', capitalize() gives 'The truth of life' while title() gives 'The Truth Of Life'.

Does capitalize() modify the original string?

No. Strings are immutable in Python, so capitalize() returns a new string; the original string remains unchanged unless reassigned.