C Language MCQ Questions and Answers. A collection of C language multiple choice questions with answers, suitable for Class 11-12 studies. Includes basic concepts, functions & pointers.
C Language MCQ Questions and Answers – Mock Online Test
Question 1: Which language directly influenced the development of C?
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Correct Answer: B. B. C was derived from the B programming language, which itself was influenced by BCPL.
Question 2: Who is credited with creating the C programming language?
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Correct Answer: C. Dennis Ritchie. Dennis Ritchie developed C at Bell Labs in the early 1970s.
Question 3: What is the name of the first widely available description of the C language, often referred to as “K&R C”?
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Correct Answer: A. The C Programming Language. This book, written by Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie, became a definitive guide for C programmers.
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT a C standard?
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Correct Answer: C. C++11. This is a standard for the C++ programming language, not C.
Question 5: C played a crucial role in the development of which operating system?
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Correct Answer: C. Unix. C was initially developed to rewrite the Unix operating system.
Question 6: What programming paradigm does C follow?
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Correct Answer: C. Procedural. C programs are structured around procedures or functions that perform specific tasks.
Question 7: Which feature allows C programs to run on different types of computers with minimal changes?
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Correct Answer: C. Portability. C code can be compiled and run on various platforms with little or no modification.
Question 8: What mechanism in C promotes code reusability?
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Correct Answer: C. Functions. Functions encapsulate blocks of code that can be reused multiple times within a program.
Question 9: C is known for its efficiency because it:
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Correct Answer: C. Provides low-level access to hardware. This allows for direct manipulation of memory and system resources.
Question 10: What type of language is C, in terms of how it is executed?
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Correct Answer: B. Compiled. C code is translated into machine code by a compiler before execution.
Question 11: Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of C?
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Correct Answer: A. High-level abstraction. While C provides some abstraction, it is generally considered a lower-level language compared to languages like Java or Python.
Question 12: What is the process of converting C source code into an executable program called?
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Correct Answer: B. Compilation. A compiler translates the human-readable C code into machine code that the computer can understand.
Question 13: Which of the following is a popular compiler for C?
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Correct Answer: C. GCC. GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) is a widely used compiler for C and other languages.
Question 14: What is the purpose of a linker in C programming?
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Correct Answer: C. To combine object files and libraries into an executable. The linker resolves references between different code modules.
Question 15: What is the typical file extension for C source code files?
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Correct Answer: C. .c. C source code files are typically saved with the .c extension.
Question 16: Which of the following is NOT a component of a typical C development environment?
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Correct Answer: C. Web browser. While a web browser might be used for accessing documentation, it’s not a core component of the development environment itself.
Question 17: What is the first step in creating a C program?
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Correct Answer: C. Writing the source code in a text editor. You need to write the C code before you can compile or run it.
Question 18: What command is commonly used to compile C code using GCC?
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Correct Answer: C. gcc. The gcc command invokes the GNU Compiler Collection to compile C code.
Question 19: What is the name of the function that serves as the entry point for execution in a C program?
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Correct Answer: B. main(). The main()
function is where the program’s execution begins.
Question 20: What is the purpose of header files in C?
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Correct Answer: B. To define functions, variables, and macros. Header files provide declarations and definitions that can be used in multiple source files.
Question 21: Which preprocessor directive is used to include header files in a C program?
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Correct Answer: C. #include. The #include
directive tells the preprocessor to insert the contents of a header file into the source code.
Question 22: What function is commonly used to display output to the console in C?
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Correct Answer: D. printf(). The printf()
function is used for formatted output to the console.
Question 23: What is the purpose of comments in C code?
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Correct Answer: B. To improve code readability and provide explanations. Comments are ignored by the compiler and serve as documentation for humans.
Question 24: What symbol is used to indicate a single-line comment in C?
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Correct Answer: A. //. Two forward slashes (//) mark the beginning of a single-line comment.
Question 25: What is the purpose of the scanf()
function in C?
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Correct Answer: B. To read input from the user. The scanf()
function is used for formatted input from the console.
Question 26: Which of the following is NOT an integer data type in C?
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Correct Answer: C. float. float
is a floating-point data type, used for representing numbers with decimal points.
Question 27: What data type is used to store single characters in C?
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Correct Answer: B. char. The char
data type is used to store individual characters like ‘A’, ‘b’, or ‘?’.
Question 28: What is the purpose of the void
data type in C?
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Correct Answer: C. To indicate the absence of a value or type. void
is often used for functions that do not return a value.
Question 29: What is the correct way to declare an integer variable named “age” in C?
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Correct Answer: A. int age;. The syntax for variable declaration is data_type variable_name;
Question 30: What is the process of assigning an initial value to a variable at the time of declaration called?
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Correct Answer: C. Initialization. For example, int age = 25;
initializes the age
variable to 25.
Question 31: What are values that cannot be changed during program execution called?
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Correct Answer: B. Constants. Constants are fixed values that remain the same throughout the program.
Question 32: Which keyword is used to declare a constant in C?
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Correct Answer: B. const. The const
keyword is used to declare a constant, e.g., const int MAX_VALUE = 100;
Question 33: Where are variables typically stored in a computer’s memory?
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Correct Answer: C. RAM. Variables are stored in RAM (Random Access Memory) for fast access during program execution.
Question 34: Which operator is used for addition in C?
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Correct Answer: A. +
. The plus symbol (+
) is the addition operator.
Question 35: What does the modulus operator (%
) do?
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Correct Answer: B. Returns the remainder of a division operation. For example, 10 % 3
would result in 1.
Question 36: Which operator is used to check if two values are equal in C?
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Correct Answer: B. ==
. The double equals sign (==
) is the equality operator.
Question 37: What does the logical AND operator (&&
) do?
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Correct Answer: B. Returns true if both operands are true.
Question 38: Which operator is used to perform a bitwise XOR operation in C?
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Correct Answer: C. ^
. The caret symbol (^
) is the bitwise XOR operator.
Question 39: What is the purpose of the assignment operator (=
) in C?
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Correct Answer: B. To assign a value to a variable. For example, age = 30;
assigns the value 30 to the variable age
.
Question 40: What is the order in which operators are evaluated in an expression called?
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Correct Answer: B. Precedence. Operators with higher precedence are evaluated before operators with lower precedence.
Question 41: What is the process of converting one data type to another called in C?
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Correct Answer: A. Casting. For example, (int)3.14
would convert the floating-point number 3.14 to an integer.
Question 42: Which of the following is NOT a type of operator in C?
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Correct Answer: D. Declarative. Declarative is a programming paradigm, not a type of operator.
Question 43: Which statement is used to execute a block of code only if a condition is true?
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Correct Answer: C. if
. The if
statement allows for conditional execution of code.
Question 44: What is the keyword used to specify an alternative block of code to be executed if the condition in an if
statement is false?
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Correct Answer: A. else
. The else
block is executed when the if
condition is false.
Question 45: What is a series of nested if-else
statements called?
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Correct Answer: C. If-else ladder. This structure allows for multiple conditions to be checked sequentially.
Question 46: Which statement allows you to select one of many code blocks to be executed based on the value of an expression?
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Correct Answer: D. switch
. The switch
statement provides a way to choose between multiple cases based on a value.
Question 47: What keyword is used to exit a switch
statement in C?
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Correct Answer: C. break
. The break
statement is used to prevent fall-through to the next case.
Question 48: What is the purpose of the default
case in a switch
statement?
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Correct Answer: B. To provide a catch-all block of code if no other case matches.
Question 49: Which loop is used when you know the number of iterations in advance?
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Correct Answer: A. for
. The for
loop is ideal for situations where the number of iterations is predetermined.
Question 50: What is the section of a for
loop that determines whether the loop should continue or terminate called?
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Correct Answer: B. Condition. The condition is evaluated before each iteration; if it’s true, the loop continues.
Question 51: Which loop continues to execute as long as its condition remains true?
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Correct Answer: B. while
. The while
loop repeatedly executes its code block as long as the specified condition is true.
Question 52: What is the key difference between a while
loop and a do-while
loop?
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Correct Answer: B. A do-while
loop always executes at least once. The condition is checked after the loop body executes.
Question 53: What is a loop placed inside another loop called?
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Correct Answer: C. Nested loop. Nested loops allow for more complex iterative processes.
Question 54: Which keyword is used to immediately exit a loop in C?
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Correct Answer: C. break
. The break
statement terminates the loop and transfers execution to the code following the loop.
Question 55: What does the continue
keyword do in a loop?
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Correct Answer: B. Skips the current iteration and proceeds to the next. continue
jumps to the next iteration of the loop.
Question 56: What is a function prototype in C?
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Correct Answer: B. A declaration of a function that specifies its name, return type, and parameters.
Question 57: What is the keyword used to specify the type of value a function returns in C?
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Correct Answer: D. The data type of the return value (e.g., int
, float
). This indicates the type of value the function will send back to the caller.
Question 58: What is the process of passing data to a function called?
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Correct Answer: B. Argument passing. Arguments are the values provided to a function when it’s called.
Question 59: What keyword is used to send a value back from a function to its caller?
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Correct Answer: B. return
. The return
statement sends a value back to the calling function.
Question 60: What is the region of a program where a variable is accessible called?
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Correct Answer: A. Scope. A variable’s scope determines where in the code it can be used.
Question 61: What type of variable is declared inside a function and is only accessible within that function?
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Correct Answer: B. Local variable. Local variables have function-level scope.
Question 62: What is a function that calls itself called?
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Correct Answer: B. Recursive function. Recursion involves a function calling itself to solve a problem.
Question 63: Which of the following is NOT a common application of recursion?
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Correct Answer: D. Performing simple arithmetic operations. Recursion is typically used for more complex tasks that can be broken down into smaller, self-similar subproblems.
Question 64: What is the process of dividing a program into smaller, self-contained units called functions referred to as?
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Correct Answer: B. Modular programming. This approach improves code organization and reusability.
Question 65: What is a key benefit of using functions in C?
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Correct Answer: C. Improved code readability and maintainability. Functions make code easier to understand, debug, and modify.
Question 66: What design approach starts with a high-level overview of the program and breaks it down into smaller, more manageable components?
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Correct Answer: B. Top-down design. This method helps in organizing complex programs by starting with the overall structure and refining it step by step.
Question 67: What is the process of gradually refining program components into more detailed implementations called?
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Correct Answer: C. Stepwise refinement. This technique involves breaking down a problem into smaller steps and implementing them in a systematic way.
Question 68: What is the primary purpose of using header files in modular programming?
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Correct Answer: B. To organize function declarations and make them accessible to multiple source files. This promotes code reusability and reduces redundancy.
Question 69: What is a collection of elements of the same data type stored contiguously in memory called?
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Correct Answer: C. Array. Arrays provide a way to store multiple values of the same type under a single name.
Question 70: How are individual elements within an array accessed?
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Correct Answer: C. By their indices (positions). Array indices start from 0.
Question 71: What is a common way to process all elements in an array?
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Correct Answer: B. Using loops. Loops provide a convenient way to iterate through array elements.
Question 72: What is an array with more than one dimension called?
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Correct Answer: C. Multidimensional array. These arrays have rows and columns (or more dimensions).
Question 73: How are arrays typically passed to functions in C?
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Correct Answer: C. By pointer. When passing an array to a function, you’re actually passing a pointer to its first element.
Question 74: If an array is declared as int numbers[5];
, what is the index of the last element?
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Correct Answer: C. 4. Array indices start from 0, so the last element in a 5-element array has an index of 4.
Question 75: How are strings represented in C?
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Correct Answer: B. As arrays of characters. A string is a sequence of characters terminated by a null character (‘\0’).
Question 76: What is the special character used to mark the end of a string in C?
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Correct Answer: C. \0. The null character signals the end of the string.
Question 77: Which function is used to find the length of a string in C?
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Correct Answer: C. strlen()
. The strlen()
function returns the number of characters in a string (excluding the null terminator).
Question 78: What function is used to copy one string to another in C?
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Correct Answer: A. strcpy()
. The strcpy()
function copies the contents of one string to another.
Question 79: What function is used to concatenate (join) two strings in C?
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Correct Answer: B. strcat()
. The strcat()
function appends one string to the end of another.
Question 80: What is a sequence of characters enclosed in double quotes called in C?
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Correct Answer: B. String literal. For example, “Hello, world!” is a string literal.
Question 81: What is a variable that stores the memory address of another variable called?
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Correct Answer: C. Pointer. Pointers provide a way to indirectly access and manipulate data.
Question 82: What symbol is used to declare a pointer variable in C?
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Correct Answer: B. *
. The asterisk (*
) is used in pointer declarations.
Question 83: What is the process of accessing the value stored at the memory address held by a pointer called?
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Correct Answer: B. Dereferencing. The dereference operator (*
) is used to access the value.
Question 84: What does pointer arithmetic allow you to do?
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Correct Answer: D. All of the above. Pointer arithmetic includes operations like adding or subtracting integers from pointers.
Question 85: What is the relationship between pointers and arrays in C?
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Correct Answer: D. All of the above. There’s a close connection between pointers and arrays in C.
Question 86: If ptr
is a pointer to an integer, what does *ptr
represent?
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Correct Answer: B. The value of the integer that ptr
points to. Dereferencing the pointer gives you the value it points to.
Question 87: What is the mechanism of passing a pointer to a function as an argument called?
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Correct Answer: D. Both B and C. Passing by reference in C is achieved using pointers.
Question 88: What is a key advantage of passing pointers to functions?
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Correct Answer: A. It allows you to modify the original values of variables passed as arguments. This is because the function receives the memory address of the variable.
Question 89: Can functions return pointers?
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Correct Answer: B. Yes, functions can return pointers to any data type. This can be useful for returning dynamically allocated memory or pointers to structures.
Question 90: What is the process of allocating memory during program execution called?
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Correct Answer: B. Dynamic memory allocation. This allows you to allocate memory as needed while the program is running.
Question 91: Which function is commonly used to allocate a block of memory dynamically in C?
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Correct Answer: D. All of the above. malloc()
allocates a block of memory, calloc()
allocates and initializes it to zero, and realloc()
resizes an existing block.
Question 92: What function is used to deallocate dynamically allocated memory in C?
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Correct Answer: B. free()
. It’s important to free dynamically allocated memory to prevent memory leaks.
Question 93: What is a user-defined data type that groups related variables of different data types under a single name called?
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Correct Answer: B. Structure. Structures allow you to create complex data types by combining variables of various types.
Question 94: What operator is used to access members of a structure in C?
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Correct Answer: A. .
(dot operator). For example, if you have a structure student
with a member name
, you would access it as student.name
.
Question 95: Can structures be passed to functions and returned from functions?
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Correct Answer: B. Yes, structures can be passed by value or by reference (using pointers). This allows you to work with complex data structures within functions.
Question 96: What is a structure defined within another structure called?
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Correct Answer: B. Nested structure. Nesting structures provides a way to create hierarchical data organizations.
Question 97: What is a union in C?
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Correct Answer: A. A data type that groups variables of different data types, where all members share the same memory location. This means that only one member of a union can hold a value at a time.
Question 98: What is the key difference between a structure and a union?
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Correct Answer: C. Members of a union share the same memory location, while members of a structure do not. This makes unions more memory-efficient in certain situations.
Question 99: Which of the following is a potential application of a union?
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Correct Answer: A. Storing data that can have different interpretations (e.g., a value that can be treated as an integer or a float). Unions can be used when you need to store different types of data in the same memory location, but only one type at a time.
Question 100: Which function is used to open a file in C?
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Correct Answer: B. fopen()
. This function opens a file and returns a file pointer that can be used for subsequent file operations.