Linked Lists: Implementation and Operations - Interactive Learning Quizzes

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(log n)

Question 2

Which traversal technique visits each node in a linked list exactly once?

Accepted Answer

In-order traversal

Answer

Pre-order traversal

Answer

Post-order traversal

Question 3

Which data structure is suitable for implementing a priority queue efficiently?

Accepted Answer

Heap

Answer

Linked list

Answer

Array

Question 4

What is the time complexity of searching for an element in an unsorted singly linked list?

Accepted Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(log n)

Question 5

To add a new element to the end of a linked list, which operation is used?

Accepted Answer

Insert At Tail

Answer

Insert At Head

Answer

Delete At Head

Answer

Delete At Tail

Question 6

Deleting an element from the middle of a singly linked list has a time complexity of:

Accepted Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of linked lists over arrays?

Accepted Answer

Faster access to elements

Answer

Dynamic memory allocation

Answer

Ease of insertion and deletion

Answer

Improved cache locality

Question 8

What is the key difference between singly linked lists and doubly linked lists?

Accepted Answer

Singly linked lists have one pointer per node, while doubly linked lists have two pointers per node.

Answer

Singly linked lists can be traversed in both directions, while doubly linked lists can only be traversed in one direction.

Answer

Doubly linked lists are more efficient for insertion and deletion operations.

Answer

Singly linked lists are simpler to implement.

Question 9

A commonly used traversal technique for linked lists is:

Accepted Answer

Recursive traversal

Answer

Depth-first search

Answer

Breadth-first search

Answer

Backtracking

Question 10

In a linked list, what fundamental data structure stores each element?

Accepted Answer

Node

Answer

Array

Answer

Stack

Answer

Queue

Question 11

What is the time complexity of deleting an element from a linked list, including traversal to locate the element?

Accepted Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Question 12

What is the fundamental difference between a singly linked list and a doubly linked list?

Accepted Answer

A singly linked list allows traversal in one direction, while a doubly linked list allows traversal in both directions.

Answer

A singly linked list has two pointers per node, while a doubly linked list has only one.

Answer

A singly linked list is more efficient for insertion and deletion operations, while a doubly linked list is more efficient for traversal operations.

Answer

There is no difference between a singly linked list and a doubly linked list.

Question 13

How would you reverse a linked list using a recursive approach?

Accepted Answer

By using a stack to store the elements and then popping them to create the reversed list

Answer

By swapping the pointers of each node

Answer

By creating a new linked list and copying the elements in reverse order

Answer

By using a queue to store the elements and then dequeuing them to create the reversed list

Question 14

When inserting a node at the end of a singly linked list, what is the correct sequence of operations?

Accepted Answer

Create new node -> Update previous node's next pointer to new node -> Set new node's next pointer to null

Answer

Create new node -> Set new node's next pointer to null -> Update previous node's next pointer to new node

Answer

Set new node's next pointer to null -> Create new node -> Update previous node's next pointer to new node

Answer

Update previous node's next pointer to new node -> Create new node -> Set new node's next pointer to null

Question 15

What is the time complexity of searching for an element in a singly linked list?

Accepted Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Question 16

Which of the following describes a circular doubly linked list?

Accepted Answer

The head node points to the last node, and the last node points back to the head node.

Answer

The head node points to the first node, and the last node points back to the second node.

Answer

The head node points to null, and the last node points back to the head node.

Answer

The head node points to itself, and the last node points back to null.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

To mark the beginning of the list

Answer

To point to the last node in the list

Answer

To store additional information about the list

Answer

To improve the performance of insertion operations

Question 18

What is the fundamental difference between a singly linked list and a doubly linked list?

Accepted Answer

Doubly linked lists have nodes with references to both the previous and next nodes, while singly linked lists only have references to the next node

Answer

Singly linked lists have nodes with references to both the previous and next nodes, while doubly linked lists only have references to the next node

Answer

Singly linked lists are more efficient in terms of memory usage

Answer

Doubly linked lists are more efficient for insertion and deletion operations

Question 19

Which algorithm is used to determine if a linked list has a cycle?

Accepted Answer

Floyd's cycle detection algorithm

Answer

Depth-first search

Answer

Breadth-first search

Answer

Binary search

Question 20

What is the purpose of using a dummy node in a linked list?

Accepted Answer

To simplify insertion and deletion operations at the beginning of the list

Answer

To reduce memory usage

Answer

To improve search performance

Answer

To mark the end of the list

Question 21

What operation allows you to insert a new node containing data at the beginning of a singly linked list?

Accepted Answer

Prepend

Answer

Append

Answer

InsertAfter

Answer

insertBefore

Question 22

Which traversal technique involves visiting all nodes of a linked list in the order they are stored in memory?

Accepted Answer

Iterative traversal

Answer

Depth-first search (DFS)

Answer

Breadth-first search (BFS)

Answer

Recursive traversal

Question 23

Why does a linked list node generally require more memory compared to an array element of the same data type?

Accepted Answer

Linked list nodes have an additional pointer to the next node, increasing memory usage.

Answer

Linked lists use recursion in their implementation, leading to higher memory consumption.

Answer

Linked list nodes store duplicate data, resulting in increased memory usage.

Question 24

In which scenarios is a doubly linked list preferable to a singly linked list?

Accepted Answer

Frequent insertions and deletions in the middle of the list

Accepted Answer

Traversal in both directions is essential

Answer

Minimizing memory usage is paramount

Answer

Sequence of elements is irrelevant

Question 25

Which of the following is a valid representation of a doubly linked list?

Accepted Answer

A sequence of nodes with pointers to the previous and next nodes

Answer

An array of nodes

Answer

A binary tree

Answer

A hash table

Question 26

What is the memory overhead of a single node in a doubly linked list?

Accepted Answer

Size of the stored data plus the size of two pointers

Answer

Size of the stored data

Answer

Size of two pointers

Answer

Size of the stored data plus twice the size of one pointer

Question 27

Which operation allows you to traverse a doubly linked list in reverse order?

Accepted Answer

Backward traversal

Answer

Forward traversal

Answer

Depth-first search (DFS)

Answer

Breadth-first search (BFS)

Question 28

Which data structure can be implemented using a singly linked list to mimic a queue?

Accepted Answer

Queue

Answer

Stack

Answer

Binary search tree

Answer

Graph

Question 29

What is the primary purpose of a head node in a linked list?

Accepted Answer

To serve as the entry point to the list, pointing to the first node

Answer

To store metadata about the entire list

Answer

To store the count of elements in the list

Answer

To indicate the end of the list

Question 30

In a doubly linked list, which operation allows for the insertion of a new node after a specified node?

Accepted Answer

InsertAfter

Answer

Append

Answer

insertBefore

Answer

Prepend

Question 31

What is the time complexity of searching for a specific node in a singly linked list containing 'n' nodes?

Accepted Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(n^2)

Answer

O(log n)

Question 32

How can a deque (double-ended queue) be implemented using a linked list? Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of this approach.

Accepted Answer

A deque can be implemented using a linked list, allowing for efficient insertions and deletions at both ends.

Answer

A deque can be implemented using a linked list, but front operations are more efficient than end operations.

Answer

A deque cannot be implemented using a linked list due to the lack of random access support.

Answer

A deque can be implemented using a linked list, but an array is generally preferred for efficiency.

Question 33

Which operation is not directly supported by a singly linked list?

Accepted Answer

Reversing the order of nodes

Answer

Inserting a node

Answer

Deleting a node

Answer

Traversing the list

Question 34

In a linked list, which operation can be executed in constant time, O(1)?

Accepted Answer

Inserting a node at the start of the list

Answer

Deleting a node from the middle of the list

Answer

Traversing the list from end to beginning

Answer

Comparing a linked list to an array

Question 35

What is the time complexity of searching for an element in a linked list?

Accepted Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Question 36

Which operation is NOT supported by a doubly linked list?

Accepted Answer

Deleting a node without a pointer to its previous node

Answer

Inserting a node at a specific position

Answer

Traversing the list in both directions

Question 37

What is the primary purpose of using a header node in a linked list?

Accepted Answer

To simplify the implementation of common linked list operations

Answer

To mark the end of the list

Answer

To store the number of nodes in the list

Answer

To point to the first node in the list

Question 38

What is the key difference between a singly linked list and a circular linked list?

Accepted Answer

In a circular linked list, the tail node points back to the head node, forming a continuous loop.

Answer

Circular linked lists are more efficient for storing large amounts of data compared to singly linked lists.

Answer

Singly linked lists can only be traversed in one direction, while circular linked lists can be traversed in both directions.

Question 39

Which of the following is the most common implementation technique for a stack using a linked list?

Accepted Answer

Push and pop operations are performed at the head of the list, simulating a Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) behavior.

Answer

Only push operations can be performed using a linked list.

Answer

Push and pop operations are performed at the tail of the list.

Question 40

What is the fundamental data structure used in the implementation of linked lists?

Accepted Answer

Node-based implementation

Answer

Array-based implementation

Answer

Hash table implementation

Answer

Tree-based implementation

Question 41

Which traversal method allows you to visit each element of a linked list in sequential order?

Accepted Answer

Iterative traversal

Answer

Recursive traversal

Answer

Breadth-first traversal

Answer

Depth-first traversal

Question 42

What is the primary purpose of a head node in a linked list?

Accepted Answer

To serve as the entry point to the list, providing access to the first node.

Answer

To store additional data associated with the entire list

Answer

To mark the end of the list

Answer

To keep track of the size of the list

Question 43

Define a circular linked list.

Accepted Answer

A linked list where the last node's next reference points back to the first node, forming a continuous loop.

Answer

A linked list that can only be traversed in a clockwise direction

Answer

A linked list with a fixed, predetermined size

Question 44

When deleting a node from the beginning of a linked list, what is the time complexity of the operation?

Accepted Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(n^2)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n)

Question 45

Explain the purpose of a sentinel node in a linked list.

Accepted Answer

To simplify list operations by eliminating special cases, such as checking for an empty list or the end of the list.

Answer

To increase the speed of traversal operations

Answer

To reduce the amount of memory required by the list

Question 46

Which traversal method allows you to visit nodes in a linked list in reverse order, starting from the last node?

Accepted Answer

Recursive traversal starting from the last node

Answer

Iterative traversal from the first node

Answer

Double traversal from both ends of the list

Answer

Random traversal based on node addresses

Question 47

Identify the operation that cannot be performed on a circular linked list.

Accepted Answer

Deleting a node without having access to its predecessor

Answer

Inserting a node at any position in the list

Answer

Detecting the presence of cycles in the list

Answer

Traversing the list in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions

Question 48

What is one of the main advantages of using a linked list compared to an array?

Accepted Answer

Greater flexibility in inserting and deleting elements without the need to shift or resize the entire data structure.

Answer

Lower memory consumption

Answer

Faster access to specific elements

Answer

Simplicity of implementation

Question 49

What is the time complexity of searching for a specific node in a singly linked list containing *n* nodes?

Accepted Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Answer

O(1)

Question 50

Which of the following is the primary advantage of using a linked list over an array for storing data?

Accepted Answer

Dynamic memory allocation enables efficient insertion and deletion of elements.

Answer

Linked lists are more memory-efficient for storing large amounts of data.

Answer

Linked lists provide faster random access to elements.

Question 51

In a singly linked list, which of these operations is typically the most efficient?

Accepted Answer

Inserting a new node at the beginning of the list.

Answer

Deleting a node at the beginning of the list.

Answer

Accessing the node in the middle of the list.

Answer

Deleting a node at the end of the list.

Question 52

In a singly linked list, what does the 'next' pointer of the last node typically point to?

Accepted Answer

NULL or nullptr.

Answer

The first node in the list.

Answer

The previous node in the list.

Answer

A special sentinel node.

Question 53

You want to insert a new node into a sorted singly linked list. To maintain the sorted order, where should the new node be inserted?

Accepted Answer

After the node whose value is less than or equal to the new node's value.

Answer

Before the node whose value is less than the new node's value.

Answer

At the end of the list.

Question 54

What is the primary role of the 'head' pointer in a linked list?

Accepted Answer

It provides access to the first node in the list.

Answer

It points to the last node in the list.

Answer

It stores the size of the list.

Question 55

Which data structure closely resembles a stack in terms of its operations?

Accepted Answer

A singly linked list where insertion and deletion occur only at the head.

Answer

A doubly linked list.

Answer

A circular linked list.

Question 56

How do you traverse a singly linked list to access data from each node?

Accepted Answer

Start at the head and repeatedly follow the 'next' pointer until you reach NULL or nullptr.

Answer

Use a recursive function to traverse the list backwards.

Answer

Access each node by its memory address.

Question 57

What is the key structural difference between a singly linked list and a doubly linked list?

Accepted Answer

Doubly linked lists include a 'previous' pointer in each node, in addition to the 'next' pointer.

Answer

Doubly linked lists are more memory-efficient than singly linked lists.

Answer

Doubly linked lists allow for faster insertion and deletion.

Question 58

When deleting a node from a singly linked list, what additional information is typically needed (besides the node to be deleted) for a standard implementation?

Accepted Answer

The node preceding the node to be deleted.

Answer

The memory address of the list.

Answer

The head of the list.

Answer

The size of the list.

Question 59

Which of the following scenarios would benefit most from using a circular linked list?

Accepted Answer

Implementing a queue where the last element becomes the first after dequeueing.

Answer

Representing a tree-like structure for hierarchical data.

Answer

Storing a list of students in a class, sorted by their grades.