Perl Basics - Quiz Explanation

The correct answers are indicated below, along with text that explains the correct answers.
 
1. Perl is:
Please select the best answer.
  A. a compiled language
  B. used only on Unix systems
  C. a cross between a compiler and an interpreter
  D. Another way of spelling Pearl.
  The correct answer is C.
Perl is often described as a hybrid: it compiles source into an internal form and then executes it. In practice, Perl behaves like an interpreted language, but it performs compilation steps before running. Versions of Perl exist for Windows and macOS as well as for Unix-like platforms.

2. Perl is especially well suited for:
Please select the best answer.
  A. textual data manipulation
  B. highly complex mathematical applications
  C. writing operating systems
  D. Simulating the film "The Matrix"
  The correct answer is A.
While Perl is capable of handling other types of problems, it is especially strong at manipulating text: parsing, transforming, searching, and extracting information from strings and files.

3. Perl is available on:
Please select the best answer.
  A. Unix only
  B. Microsoft Windows only
  C. Mac OS only
  D. most popular platforms
  The correct answer is D.
Perl originated on Unix, but it has long been available on major platforms including Linux/Unix, Windows, and macOS. Some platform-specific behaviors exist, but the language and core tooling are broadly portable.

4. Perl is:
Please select the best answer.
  A. Stronger in managing numeric data than character type
  B. The defacto language of choice for Unix
  C. More than 20 years old
  D. An acronym for Practical Extraction and Report Language
  The correct answer is C.
Perl has been around since 1987, which makes it far more than 20 years old. Also note that Perl is not formally an acronym. The phrase “Practical Extraction and Report Language” is best described as a backronym—a phrase created after the fact to fit an existing word.