Compiler Construction MCQs with answers are essential for students preparing for university semester exams, PPSC, FPSC, and NTS tests. Mastering core concepts like lexical analysis, syntax analysis, parsing techniques, intermediate code generation, and target code optimization through solved Compiler Construction MCQs helps build strong computer science fundamentals. Practicing these high-yield Compiler Construction MCQs regularly ensures thorough exam preparation, better conceptual clarity, and higher scores in competitive exams.
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Top Compiler Construction MCQs for Competitive Exams
Below is a curated set of past paper questions designed for quick revision:
Question 1: Which phase of the compiler reads the source program as a stream of characters and translates them into meaningful tokens?
- A) Syntax Analyzer
- B) Lexical Analyzer (Scanner)
- C) Semantic Analyzer
- D) Intermediate Code Generator
Correct Answer: B) Lexical Analyzer (Scanner)
Question 2: Which data structure is used by the compiler to keep track of variable names, scope, and attribute information?
- A) Stack
- B) Queue
- C) Symbol Table
- D) Parse Tree
Correct Answer: C) Symbol Table Note: Practicing these Compiler Construction MCQs regularly improves accuracy in competitive entry tests. You can also revise hardware fundamentals in our guide onComputer Architecture MCQs.
Question 3: What parser type constructs a parse tree starting from the root and moving down to the leaves?
- A) Bottom-Up Parser
- B) Top-Down Parser
- C) Shift-Reduce Parser
- D) Operator Precedence Parser
Correct Answer: B) Top-Down Parser
Question 4: Which formal grammar notation is primarily used to define the syntax of programming languages?
- A) Regular Grammar
- B) Context-Free Grammar (CFG)
- C) Context-Sensitive Grammar
- D) Unrestricted Grammar
Correct Answer: B) Context-Free Grammar (CFG) Tip: Bookmark these Compiler Construction MCQs for quick exam-day revision on parsing algorithms and compiler design.
Important Compiler Construction MCQs on Parsing and Syntax Analysis
Question 5: Which phase of the compiler generates an abstract syntax tree from tokens?
- A) Lexical Analyzer
- B) Syntax Analyzer (Parser)
- C) Code Optimizer
- D) Code Generator
Correct Answer: B) Syntax Analyzer (Parser)
Question 6: What parsing action shifts the next input symbol onto the parser stack in shift-reduce parsing?
- A) Reduce
- B) Shift
- C) Accept
- D) Error
Correct Answer: B) Shift
Question 7: Which error detection mechanism handles illegal character sequences during compiler execution?
- A) Syntax Error Handler
- B) Lexical Error Handler
- C) Semantic Error Handler
- D) Runtime Error Handler
Correct Answer: B) Lexical Error Handler
Question 8: What type of intermediate code representation uses three memory addresses per instruction?
- A) Postfix Notation
- B) Syntax Tree
- C) Three-Address Code (TAC)
- D) Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG)
Correct Answer: C) Three-Address Code (TAC)
Question 9: Which optimization technique eliminates calculations that yield the same result repeatedly inside loops?
- A) Dead Code Elimination
- B) Code Motion (Loop-Invariant Code Motion)
- C) Constant Folding
- D) Strength Reduction
Correct Answer: B) Code Motion (Loop-Invariant Code Motion)
Question 10: Which LR parser variant is the most powerful among bottom-up parsers?
- A) SLR(1)
- B) LALR(1)
- C) Canonical LR(1)
- D) Operator Precedence
Correct Answer: C) Canonical LR(1)
Advanced Compiler Construction MCQs and Optimization
Question 11: Which phase checks whether source code construct definitions conform to language semantic rules?
- A) Lexical Analyzer
- B) Semantic Analyzer
- C) Intermediate Code Generator
- D) Target Code Generator
Correct Answer: B) Semantic Analyzer
Question 12: Replacing an expensive operation like multiplication with a cheaper one like addition is called what?
- A) Constant Peep-hole
- B) Strength Reduction
- C) Loop Unrolling
- D) Inline Expansion
Correct Answer: B) Strength Reduction Summary: Resolving various syntax and semantic errors using these Compiler Construction MCQs strengthens core programming logic. For further technical reading, refer to theGNU Flex & Bison Documentation.
Question 13: What finite automata variant is used by lexical analyzer generators to match regular expressions?
- A) Pushdown Automata
- B) Deterministic Finite Automata (DFA)
- C) Turing Machine
- D) Linear Bounded Automata
Correct Answer: B) Deterministic Finite Automata (DFA)
Question 14: What technique removes statements that can never be reached or executed during runtime?
- A) Loop Invariant Elimination
- B) Dead Code Elimination
- C) Constant Propagation
- D) Register Allocation
Correct Answer: B) Dead Code Elimination
Question 15: Which machine-dependent optimization distributes CPU registers efficiently to program variables?
- A) Peephole Optimization
- B) Register Allocation
- C) Instruction Scheduling
- D) Flow Graph Analysis
Correct Answer: B) Register Allocation
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