A variable stores a piece of data a program can use and change, like a player's score or a username. A conditional statement makes a program branch based on a condition — "if" something is true, do one thing; "else", do another. Combining variables and conditionals lets programs make decisions and react differently depending on changing data.
Example
A simple game might store score in a variable, starting at 0. When the player earns points, score increases. A conditional checks: "if score >= 100, show 'You win!'; else, keep playing" — the program's behaviour changes based on the variable's current value.
Key terms
Variable:
A named piece of data a program can store and change.
Conditional:
A statement that makes code run only if a condition is true.
Boolean:
A data type with only two possible values: true or false.
Questions
1. A variable stores:
A piece of data a program can use and change
A fixed, unchangeable value only
A type of hardware
A password only
2. A conditional statement makes a program:
Branch based on a condition
Always run the same way
Stop working entirely
Delete all variables
3. An "if" statement runs code:
Only if a condition is true
Always, regardless of conditions
Never
Only if a condition is false
4. A boolean value can be:
True or false
Any number
Any word
A colour
5. In "if score >= 100, show 'You win!'", score is a:
Variable
Conditional keyword
Boolean value directly
A password
6. An "else" statement runs when the "if" condition is:
False
True
Always ignored
Undefined only
7. A variable's value can:
Change while a program runs
Never change once set
Only be a boolean
Only be set by the computer's hardware
8. If score = 50 and the condition is "if score >= 100", the condition is:
False
True
Undefined
A syntax error
9. If age = 15 and the condition is "if age >= 13", the condition is:
True
False
Undefined
A syntax error
10. A game checks "if lives == 0, show Game Over". This is an example of:
Using a variable in a conditional
A variable with no conditional
A conditional with no variable
Neither a variable nor conditional
11. Why are variables useful in programs?
They let programs store and update changing information
They make programs run slower on purpose
They remove the need for any logic
They only work with numbers, never text
12. An "else if" (or "elif") statement is used when you need to:
Check multiple different conditions in sequence
Only ever check one condition
Avoid using variables entirely
Replace all variables with booleans
13. A traffic light program checks "if light == red, stop". Here, "red" represents:
A specific value the variable "light" could hold
A boolean only
A conditional keyword
A type of hardware
14. Which of these is a valid boolean condition?
age > 18
age
The word "hello"
A random colour
15. A weather app uses a variable temperature and shows "Wear a coat" if temperature < 10, otherwise "No coat needed". If temperature = 8, what is shown?
"Wear a coat"
"No coat needed"
Nothing at all
An error message
16. A login system checks "if username == stored_username AND password == stored_password, allow access". This combines a conditional with:
Multiple variables and a logical AND
No variables at all
Only one variable and no logic
A single boolean with no comparison
17. A program has: score = 0; score = score + 10; score = score + 5. What is the final value of score?
15
10
5
0
18. Why might a programmer use a variable instead of hardcoding a fixed number directly into many places in a program?
Changing the variable once updates it everywhere it's used, avoiding repeated manual edits
Variables always make programs run slower
Hardcoded numbers are always better practice
There is no difference between the two approaches
19. A quiz app tracks correct_answers as a variable. After 3 correct answers out of 5 questions, which conditional would correctly show "Great job!" only for scores of 3 or more?
if correct_answers >= 3, show "Great job!"
if correct_answers == 5, show "Great job!" only
if correct_answers < 3, show "Great job!"
A conditional cannot check this
20. Nested conditionals (an "if" inside another "if") are useful when:
A decision depends on more than one condition being checked in sequence
Only one condition will ever exist in any program
Nesting conditionals is always forbidden
Variables are not allowed inside conditionals
21. A loop that repeats "while score < 100" combines a conditional check with:
Repetition, continuing only while the condition stays true
A single one-time check with no repetition
No variable at all
A boolean that never changes
Answer key (parent copy)
1. A piece of data a program can use and change
2. Branch based on a condition
3. Only if a condition is true
4. True or false
5. Variable
6. False
7. Change while a program runs
8. False
9. True
10. Using a variable in a conditional
11. They let programs store and update changing information
12. Check multiple different conditions in sequence
13. A specific value the variable "light" could hold
14. age > 18
15. "Wear a coat"
16. Multiple variables and a logical AND
17. 15
18. Changing the variable once updates it everywhere it's used, avoiding repeated manual edits
19. if correct_answers >= 3, show "Great job!"
20. A decision depends on more than one condition being checked in sequence
21. Repetition, continuing only while the condition stays true