Perl Compilation - Quiz Explanation

The correct answers are indicated below, along with text that explains the correct answers.

1.	What type of data does Perl handle with particular ease and efficiency? Please select the best answer.
	A.	numerical data
	B.	text data
	C.	GUI data
	The correct answer is B. While it's possible to handle complicated mathematical equations in Perl, the language is at its best handling text with ease and efficiency. Perl is primarily a command line language and does not easily allow you to write graphical user interfaces.

2.	What is an interpreter? Please select the best answer.
	A.	A program that converts source code into another form that is then executed in a separate step.
	B.	A program that executes your source code directly, without first converting it to another form.
	C.	A program that compiles parts of your program into an intermediate byte code and then, at runtime, interpretes the parts of the program that cannot be readily compiled.
	The correct answer is B. An interpreter is a program that interprets source code and executes it without first compiling it into a different form. A compiler is a program that converts source code into another form that is then executed in a separate step. Answer C is actually a description of the `perl` program, which is part compiler and part interpreter.

3.	What is `perl`? Please select the best answer.
	A.	A computer language that is popular with web programmers
	B.	A program that interprets Perl code, but does not compile it
	C.	A program that compiles and interprets Perl code, depending on the code and the context
	The correct answer is C. The program `perl` is part compiler and part interpreter. The language is called Perl, not `perl`.