This set of Unix Multiple Choice Questions & Answers focuses on “Shell Programming using read Command and Command Line Arguments”.
1. What is a shell script?
a) group of commands
b) a file containing special symbols
c) a file containing a series of commands
d) group of functions
View Answer
Explanation: When we have to execute a series of commands altogether, we store them in a file which is itself executed as a shell script. A shell script is basically a computer program designed to be run by the UNIX shell.
2. Shell scripts need to be saved with an extension .sh .
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: It’s not mandatory to save script files with .sh extension but we do so for our own convention as it makes it easy to match them with wildcards.
3. Shell scripts are executed in a separate child shell process.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: Shell scripts are executed in a separate child process, and this sub-shell need not be of the same type as our login shell. In other words, even if our login shell is bourne, we can use a Korn sub-shell to run our script.
4. The first line in any shell script begins with a _____
a) &
b) !
c) $
d) #
View Answer
Explanation: When the comment character (#) is placed anywhere in a line; the shell ignores all characters on its right. However, this rule doesn’t apply to the first line which is the interpreter line. It always begins with #! and followed by the pathname of the shell to be used for running the script.
#!/bin/sh // first line defining the pathname # script.sh // name of the script
5. To run the script, we should make it executable first by using _____
a) chmod +x
b) chmod +r
c) chmod +w
d) chmod +rwx
View Answer
Explanation: Before we run the script, it is essential to make the script executable first. After that invoke the script name to run the script. For making the script executable, we have to use chmod +x script_name.
6. To spawn a child of our own choice for running the script, we can use ___ command.
a) ps
b) pr
c) sh
d) $$
View Answer
Explanation: We know that shell scripts are executed by a child shell. But we can also explicitly spawn a child of our own choice by using the sh command along with script name as an argument. When used in this way, the interpreter line is ignored by the shell.
7. Which command is used for making the scripts interactive?
a) ip
b) input
c) read
d) write
View Answer
Explanation: read command is used for making scripts interactive. It is used for taking input from the user. Input supplied from the keyboard is entered into the variable used with the read command. For example,
#!/bin/sh # emp.sh echo ”enter your name” read Uname //read input from the user echo $Uname // display input entered by the user
8. read command is shell’s internal tool.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: read command is the shell’s internal tool for taking input from the user i.e. it makes the scripts interactive.
9. A single read statement can be used with one or more variables.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: A single read statement can be used with one or more variables to let us enter multiple arguments. For example,
read FirstName LastName
10. What are positional parameters?
a) special variables for assigning arguments from the command line
b) pattern matching parameters
c) special variables for reading user input
d) special variables and patterns
View Answer
Explanation: Shell scripts can also take input from command line. When arguments are specified with a shell script, they are assigned to certain special variables called positional parameters.
11. The first argument is read by the shell into the parameter ___
a) 1$
b) $3
c) $$
d) $1
View Answer
Explanation: Command line arguments are stored into positional parameters. The first argument is read by the shell into the parameter $1, second argument in $2 and so on.
12. The complete set of positional parameters is stored in ______ as a single string.
a) $n
b) $#
c) $*
d) $$
View Answer
Explanation: There are some special parameters used by the shell. One of which is $*, which stores the complete set of positional parameters as a single string.
13. Which of the following is used for storing the number of positional parameters?
a) $n
b) $#
c) $*
d) $2
View Answer
Explanation: $# is used for storing the number of arguments specified. It lets us design scripts that check whether the right number of arguments have been entered. For example, the following script shows the use of positional parameters:
#!/bin/sh # emp.sh echo “ The number of arguments specified are $# The arguments are $*” Now execute the script: $ emp.sh director.lst // director.lst is command line argument given to the script. The number of arguments specified is 1 The arguments are director.lst
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