1 markMCQSection A

Which of the following expressions in Python evaluates to True ?

Q: Which of the following expressions in Python evaluates to True ?

**Option C — `3>1 and 3>2`** evaluates to `True`, because both relational sub-expressions (`3>1` and `3>2`) are individually True, so their logical `and` is True.

Q: Does 'and' in Python always return True or False?

No. Python's and operator returns one of its actual operands: if the first operand is falsy, it returns the first operand; if truthy, it returns the second operand — the result is only a strict boolean if both operands were booleans.

Review of Python Basics (Class XI Recap)

Logical Operators (and)

Options

(A)2>3 and 2<3

(B)3>1 and 2

(D)3>1 and 3<2

Official Answer

Option C — 3>1 and 3>2 evaluates to True, because both relational sub-expressions (3>1 and 3>2) are individually True, so their logical and is True.

logical operatorsand operatorrelational operatorsshort-circuit evaluationboolean expressionsPython operators

Marking Scheme

11 mark: for correctly selecting option C.

Hint

Remember: `and` returns the actual second operand (not necessarily a boolean) if the first operand is truthy — check the literal output, not just truthiness.

Quick Oral Answer

Option C: 3>1 and 3>2 evaluates to True and True, which is True; the other options either give False or return a non-boolean truthy value.

Analysis & Explanation

This question tests precise evaluation of relational and logical (and) operators together, including the subtlety of Python's short-circuit behaviour.

Concept

and returns the second operand if the first is truthy; the result is a strict boolean (True/False) only when both operands themselves are booleans.
Evaluate each option's operands strictly left to right.

Option-by-option evaluation

A: 2>3 and 2<3 → False and True → short-circuits to False (first operand is False, so and returns it directly).
B: 3>1 and 2 → True and 2 → since the first operand is truthy, and returns the second operand as-is, i.e., the integer 2 (not the boolean True) — truthy, but the expression does not literally evaluate to True.
C: 3>1 and 3>2 → True and True → True. Correct.
D: 3>1 and 3<2 → True and False → False.

Exam trap

Many students think option B 'evaluates to True' because 2 is truthy; but the actual value RETURNED by and in B is the integer 2, not the boolean True, so B does not satisfy 'evaluates to True' literally.

Common Mistakes

1Believing option B evaluates to True because 2 is truthy — but `and` returns the actual operand value (2), not the boolean True.
2Not evaluating relational operators (>, <) before applying and.

Interesting Facts

In Python, `and` and `or` are short-circuit operators that return one of their operands (not necessarily True/False), unlike many other languages where logical operators always return a strict boolean.

This operand-returning behaviour of and/or is often used as a compact way to write default-value expressions, e.g., `x = a or default`.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'and' in Python always return True or False?

No. Python's and operator returns one of its actual operands: if the first operand is falsy, it returns the first operand; if truthy, it returns the second operand — the result is only a strict boolean if both operands were booleans.

Why doesn't 3>1 and 2 evaluate to the literal value True?

Because 3>1 is True (truthy), so 'and' returns the second operand as-is, which is the integer 2, not the boolean True. The expression is truthy, not literally True.