Lists – Sorting with sorted() and .sort()
Name:
Date:
Class:
A
Quick Questions
Shade in the A or B circle for each question.
1. scores = [70, 55, 90]
result = sorted(scores)
What happens to the original list scores?
2. scores = [70, 55, 90]
scores.sort()
What happens to the original list scores?
3. Which line gives a variable called ranked a sorted list?
4. Which line sorts a list called names from Z to A?
5. Which line sorts words from shortest to longest?
B
Match the Pairs
Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.
| Left column | Right column | |
|---|---|---|
| 1new_list = sorted(scores) | A.sort() changes the list in place and returns None, so scores becomes None. Use scores.sort() on its own, or scores = sorted(scores). | |
| 2scores.sort() | BMakes a new sorted list and leaves the original scores list unchanged | |
| 3Sort a list from highest to lowest using reverse=True | Csorted() does not change names. It returns a new list that was never saved, so names prints in the old order. Use names = sorted(names) or names.sort(). | |
| 4Sort a list of dictionaries by one value using key= | Dstudents.sort(key=lambda s: s["age"]) | |
| 5scores = scores.sort() | ESorts the scores list itself (in place) and returns None | |
| 6sorted(names) print(names) | Fsorted(scores, reverse=True) |
C
Definitions
sorted() and .sort()
D
Fill in the Blanks
Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.
1.
ordered = ______([70, 55, 90])
print(ordered)
2.
scores = [70, 55, 90]
scores.____()
print(scores)
3.
names = ['Zed', 'Amy', 'Bo']
names.sort(_______=True)
print(names)
4.
words = ['kiwi', 'fig', 'banana']
print(sorted(words, ___=len))
5.
people = [{'age': 15}, {'age': 12}]
people.____(key=lambda p: p['age'])
print(people)
E
Spot the Error
Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.
Question 1
A
scores = [72, 95, 58, 80]
B
ranked = scores.sorted()
C
print(ranked)
D
print(scores)
Question 2
A
names = ('Zed', 'Amy', 'Bo')
B
names.sort()
C
print(names)
Question 3
A
nums = [4, 9, 1, 7]
B
print(nums)
C
sorted_nums = nums.sort()
D
print(sorted_nums)
Question 4
A
def by_len(w)
B
return len(w)
C
words = ['pear', 'fig', 'ox']
D
words.sort(key=by_len)
Question 5
A
pts = [60, 85, 72]
B
pts.sort(reverse=true)
C
print(pts[0])
Answer Key
Lists – Sorting with sorted() and .sort()
Section A: Quick Questions
Q1
B — It stays [70, 55, 90]
Q2
A — It becomes [55, 70, 90]
Q3
A — ranked = sorted(scores)
Q4
A — names.sort(reverse=True)
Q5
B — sorted(words, key=len)
Section B: Match the Pairs
Q1
new_list = sorted(scores) → Makes a new sorted list and leaves the original scores list unchanged
Q2
scores.sort() → Sorts the scores list itself (in place) and returns None
Q3
Sort a list from highest to lowest using reverse=True → sorted(scores, reverse=True)
Q4
Sort a list of dictionaries by one value using key= → students.sort(key=lambda s: s["age"])
Q5
scores = scores.sort() → .sort() changes the list in place and returns None, so scores becomes None. Use scores.sort() on its own, or scores = sorted(scores).
Q6
sorted(names)
print(names) → sorted() does not change names. It returns a new list that was never saved, so names prints in the old order. Use names = sorted(names) or names.sort().
Section C: Definitions
Q1
sorted() and .sort() — sorted(x) returns a new sorted list and leaves x unchanged. x.sort() sorts the list x itself (in place) and returns None. Both accept reverse=True and key= to change the order.Section D: Fill in the Blanks
Q1
ordered = sorted([70, 55, 90])
print(ordered)Q2
scores = [70, 55, 90]
scores.sort()
print(scores)Q3
names = ['Zed', 'Amy', 'Bo']
names.sort(reverse=True)
print(names)Q4
words = ['kiwi', 'fig', 'banana']
print(sorted(words, key=len))Q5
people = [{'age': 15}, {'age': 12}]
people.sort(key=lambda p: p['age'])
print(people)Section E: Spot the Error
Q1
B — Lists have no .sorted() method. sorted() is a built-in function that takes the list as an argument, so the line should be ranked = sorted(scores).
Q2
A — Round brackets make a tuple, and tuples have no .sort() method, so line 2 would crash. The list needs square brackets: names = ['Zed', 'Amy', 'Bo'].
Q3
C — .sort() sorts the list in place and returns None, so sorted_nums would be None. To get a new sorted list, use sorted_nums = sorted(nums).
Q4
A — A function definition must end with a colon. It should be def by_len(w): so the key function can be used to sort by length.
Q5
B — Python's Boolean value is True with a capital T. Lowercase true is not defined and causes a NameError. It should be pts.sort(reverse=True).