Data Structures: Learn and Master the Basics for Sixth Form IT

Question 1

In a breadth-first search, which data structure is most suitable for use?

Accepted Answer

Queue

Answer

Stack

Answer

Array

Answer

Linked List

Question 2

What is a primary advantage of using a linked list over an array?

Accepted Answer

Dynamic sizing

Answer

Faster element access

Answer

More efficient memory utilization

Answer

Support for multiple data types

Question 3

What is the main purpose of a hash table data structure?

Accepted Answer

Providing efficient search and retrieval using key-value pairs

Answer

Maintaining data in sorted order

Answer

Implementing a stack or queue

Answer

Representing hierarchical relationships

Question 4

Which potential disadvantage arises when using a tree data structure?

Accepted Answer

Performance issues with unbalanced trees

Answer

Complexity in implementation

Answer

Unsuitability for storing large datasets

Answer

Requirement for specialized knowledge

Question 5

What is a key advantage of using an array compared to a linked list?

Accepted Answer

Arrays allow for quicker random access to elements.

Answer

Arrays can store a broader range of data types.

Answer

Arrays provide more flexibility for adding or removing elements.

Question 6

Which data structure stores items in a specific order, where the first item added is the first item removed?

Accepted Answer

Queue

Answer

Array

Answer

List

Answer

Stack

Question 7

What is a key advantage of using an array data structure over a linked list?

Accepted Answer

Faster random access

Answer

More efficient memory usage

Answer

Dynamic resizing capability

Answer

Easier insertion and deletion operations

Question 8

Which data structure follows the Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) principle, where the most recently added item is retrieved first?

Accepted Answer

Stack

Answer

Queue

Answer

Array

Answer

Linked List

Question 9

What is the purpose of a head pointer in a linked list?

Accepted Answer

To point to the first node of the list

Answer

To store the data of the first node

Answer

To indicate the end of the list

Answer

To access nodes randomly

Question 10

Which data structure is most appropriate for storing a large number of key-value pairs for efficient retrieval?

Accepted Answer

Hash Table

Answer

Array

Answer

Linked List

Answer

Queue

Question 11

What is the main distinction between a binary search tree and a binary tree?

Accepted Answer

Binary search trees are sorted, while binary trees are not

Answer

Binary trees have better search performance than binary search trees

Answer

Binary search trees are more complex to implement than binary trees

Answer

There is no difference between binary search trees and binary trees

Question 12

Which data structure is best suited for storing a collection of elements that can be accessed randomly by an index?

Accepted Answer

Array

Answer

List

Answer

Queue

Answer

Stack

Question 13

Which of the following is a notable disadvantage of using a linked list?

Accepted Answer

Slow random access as elements are connected sequentially

Answer

Inefficient memory usage due to dynamic allocation

Answer

Complex implementation compared to arrays

Answer

Limited versatility for different data types

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT considered a type of binary tree?

Accepted Answer

Radix Tree

Answer

Binary Search Tree

Answer

Binary Heap

Answer

AVL Tree

Question 15

What is the time complexity of a binary search algorithm operating on a sorted array?

Accepted Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Question 16

Which data structure is frequently used for representing graph data?

Accepted Answer

Adjacency List

Answer

Array

Answer

List

Answer

Binary Tree

Question 17

Which data structure suits the implementation of a first-in, first-out (FIFO) queue?

Accepted Answer

Queue

Answer

Array

Answer

List

Answer

Stack

Question 18

Which operation is not supported by a queue data structure?

Accepted Answer

Searching for a specific element

Answer

Enqueue (adding an element to the end)

Answer

Dequeue (removing an element from the front)

Answer

Peek (viewing the element at the front without removing it)

Question 19

What is the primary purpose of a linked list data structure?

Accepted Answer

Efficient insertion and deletion of elements at any position

Answer

Random access to elements based on their index

Answer

Storing large amounts of data with minimal memory overhead

Answer

Implementing complex data structures like graphs and trees

Question 20

Which statement about the disadvantages of a stack data structure is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

Can be implemented using a simple array

Answer

Limited access to elements, only the top element can be accessed

Answer

Inefficient insertion and deletion of elements from the middle

Answer

High memory overhead due to storing all elements sequentially

Question 21

What is the time complexity of searching for an element in a binary search tree?

Accepted Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Question 22

Which data structure is most suitable for representing a graph?

Accepted Answer

Adjacency list

Answer

Array

Answer

Linked list

Answer

Queue

Question 23

Which data structure is a collection of elements that can be accessed randomly using an index?

Accepted Answer

Array

Answer

Linked list

Answer

Queue

Answer

Stack

Question 24

What is the main advantage of using a linked list data structure?

Accepted Answer

Efficient insertion and deletion of elements

Answer

Fast random access to elements

Answer

Compact memory usage

Answer

Guaranteed constant time complexity

Question 25

Which data structure follows the First-In-First-Out (FIFO) principle?

Accepted Answer

Queue

Answer

Array

Answer

Linked list

Answer

Stack

Question 26

What is a key difference between an array and a linked list?

Accepted Answer

Arrays have fixed size, while linked lists can grow dynamically.

Answer

Linked lists are faster than arrays for searching.

Answer

Arrays are more efficient than linked lists for inserting elements.

Answer

Linked lists can store elements of different types, while arrays cannot.

Question 27

Which data structure is most suitable for storing a collection of unique elements that need to be retrieved efficiently?

Accepted Answer

Set

Answer

Array

Answer

Map

Answer

Queue

Question 28

What is a potential drawback of using a hash table data structure?

Accepted Answer

Hash collisions can lead to performance issues.

Answer

Hash tables require a lot of memory overhead.

Answer

Hash tables are not suitable for storing large collections of data.

Answer

Hash tables cannot be used to store non-primitive data types.

Question 29

What is the time complexity of searching for an element in a balanced binary search tree?

Accepted Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Answer

O(1)

Question 30

Which data structure is used to represent a collection of key-value pairs?

Accepted Answer

Map

Answer

Array

Answer

Linked list

Answer

Queue

Question 31

What is the primary reason for using a priority queue data structure?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that elements are processed in a specific order based on their priority.

Answer

To store a large number of elements efficiently.

Answer

To provide fast searching and insertion operations.

Answer

To represent complex relationships between elements.

Question 32

Which data structure offers dynamic storage and efficient insertion and deletion from the middle?

Accepted Answer

Linked list

Answer

Array

Answer

Queue

Answer

Stack

Question 33

Which data structure is ideal for representing hierarchical relationships?

Accepted Answer

Tree

Answer

Array

Answer

Linked list

Answer

Graph

Question 34

Which data structure supports efficient searching based on a key?

Accepted Answer

Hash table

Answer

Array

Answer

Linked list

Answer

Graph

Question 35

Which data structure is best suited for representing a network of interconnected objects?

Accepted Answer

Graph

Answer

Array

Answer

Linked list

Answer

Tree

Question 36

Which of the following is a linear data structure?

Accepted Answer

Array

Answer

Tree

Answer

Graph

Answer

Hash table

Question 37

The main advantage of a linked list over an array is:

Accepted Answer

Dynamic allocation of memory

Answer

Faster element access

Answer

Reduced storage requirements

Answer

Enhanced efficiency for extensive datasets

Question 38

To implement a breadth-first search (BFS) algorithm, which data structure is commonly used?

Accepted Answer

Queue

Answer

Stack

Answer

Tree

Answer

Graph

Question 39

Differentiate between queues and stacks.

Accepted Answer

Queues follow a first-in, first-out (FIFO) approach, while stacks follow a last-in, first-out (LIFO) approach.

Answer

Queues are linear data structures, whereas stacks are non-linear.

Answer

Queues are employed for temporary storage, while stacks are used for permanent storage.

Answer

Queues utilize pointers, while stacks favor arrays for implementation.

Question 40

Which data structure implements the first-in, first-out (FIFO) principle where the first element added is the first one to be removed?

Accepted Answer

Queue

Answer

Array

Answer

Stack

Answer

Linked list

Question 41

Which operation is NOT supported by a stack data structure?

Accepted Answer

Peek at the middle element

Answer

Pop an element from the stack

Answer

Check if the stack is empty

Answer

Push an element onto the stack

Question 42

What is the time complexity of inserting an element at the beginning of a singly linked list?

Accepted Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Answer

O(n)

Question 43

Which of the following is an advantage of using a binary search tree (BST) compared to a linear search?

Accepted Answer

Faster search for large datasets

Answer

Less memory usage

Answer

Easier insertion and deletion

Question 44

What is the primary role of a hash function in a hash table data structure?

Accepted Answer

To map a key to a unique index

Answer

To search for a key in the hash table

Answer

To store the data associated with a key

Question 45

What is the main purpose of a priority queue data structure?

Accepted Answer

To store and retrieve elements based on their priority

Answer

To search for elements efficiently

Answer

To store elements in a specific order

Question 46

A queue follows the operational principle of:

Accepted Answer

First-in, First-out (FIFO)

Answer

Last-in, First-out (LIFO)

Answer

First-in, Last-out (FILO)

Question 47

Which data structure is used to represent hierarchical relationships between data items, where each node can have multiple child nodes?

Accepted Answer

Tree

Answer

List

Answer

Queue

Answer

Array

Question 48

What is the time complexity for searching an element in an unsorted array of size n using a linear search algorithm?

Accepted Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(1)

Question 49

Which data structure is commonly used to implement a breadth-first search (BFS) algorithm, where nodes are processed level by level?

Accepted Answer

Queue

Answer

Array

Answer

List

Answer

Stack

Question 50

Which data structure maintains constant-time operations for both insertions and deletions at either end?

Accepted Answer

Deque

Answer

Queue

Answer

List

Answer

Array

Question 51

What is a key difference between a linked list and an array?

Accepted Answer

Linked lists store data in dynamically allocated nodes, while arrays store data in contiguous memory locations.

Answer

Linked lists can only store numerical data, whereas arrays can store any type of data.

Question 52

Which data structure is most suitable for implementing a priority queue, where elements are processed based on their priority?

Accepted Answer

Heap

Answer

Queue

Answer

List

Answer

Array