Which one of the following statements is FALSE? A) Context-free grammar can be used to specify both lexical and syntax rules. B) Type checking is done before parsing. C) High-level language programs can be translated to different Intermediate Representations. D) Arguments to a function can be passed using the program stack.

Official answer: B) Type checking is done before parsing.. Explanation: Let us evaluate the statements: - Option A: Context-free grammars (CFGs) are more expressive than regular grammars, so a CFG can be used to describe regular languages (tokens/lexical rules) as well as syntactic structures (syntax rules). This statement is true. - Option B: In the standard compiler pipeline, Type checking is performed during the Semantic Analysis phase, which occurs after the syntax analysis (parsing) phase, using the parse tree / abstract syntax tree constructed by the parser. Hence, type checking is done *after* parsing, making this statement FALSE. - Option C: High-level language code can be translated into various intermediate representations (IR) such as abstract syntax trees, DAGs, quadruples, triples, or 3-address code. This statement is true. - Option D: In runtime environments, arguments to a function are typically pushed onto the call stack (program stack) in the activation record. This statement is true. Therefore, statement B is the false statement.

A) Context-free grammar can be used to specify both lexical and syntax rules.

C) High-level language programs can be translated to different Intermediate Representations.

D) Arguments to a function can be passed using the program stack.

Lexical Analysis, Parsing and SDT

GATE CSE 2018 · Q8

MCQ1 markEasy

Time00:00

Which one of the following statements is FALSE?

Select one answerSingle correct

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Solution

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Official answer: B) Type checking is done before parsing.

Lexical Analysis, Parsing and SDT

Let us evaluate the statements:

Option A: Context-free grammars (CFGs) are more expressive than regular grammars, so a CFG can be used to describe regular languages (tokens/lexical rules) as well as syntactic structures (syntax rules). This statement is true.
Option B: In the standard compiler pipeline, Type checking is performed during the Semantic Analysis phase, which occurs after the syntax analysis (parsing) phase, using the parse tree / abstract syntax tree constructed by the parser. Hence, type checking is done *after* parsing, making this statement FALSE.
Option C: High-level language code can be translated into various intermediate representations (IR) such as abstract syntax trees, DAGs, quadruples, triples, or 3-address code. This statement is true.
Option D: In runtime environments, arguments to a function are typically pushed onto the call stack (program stack) in the activation record. This statement is true.

Therefore, statement B is the false statement.

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This Lexical Analysis, Parsing and SDT previous year question is Q8 of the GATE CSE 2018 paper. Find more GATE CSE PYQs on Lexical Analysis, Parsing and SDT in Compiler Design, or browse all GATE CSE PYQs.

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Lexical Analysis, Parsing and SDT in GATE CSE

Lexical Analysis, Parsing and SDT has 14 GATE CSE PYQs across 12 papers from 2011 to 2025. 9 of them are 1-mark MCQs like this one, and it is the only one in GATE CSE 2018.

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