Fill in the blanks.
(i) A program flowchart indicates the _ to be performed and the _ in which they occur.
(ii) A program flowchart is generally read from _ to _.
(iii) Flowcharting symbols are connected together by means of __.
(iv) A decision symbol may be used in determining the _ or _ of two data items.
(v) __ are used to join remote portions of a flowchart.
(vi) __ connectors are used when a flowchart ends on one page and begins again on another page.
(vii) A __ symbol is used at the beginning and end of a flowchart.
(viii) The flowchart is one of the best ways of __ a program.
(ix) To construct a flowchart, one must adhere to prescribed symbols provided by the __.
(x) The programmer uses a __ to aid him in drawing flowchart symbols.
The correct answer and explanation is :
Here are the filled-in blanks:
(i) A program flowchart indicates the operations to be performed and the sequence in which they occur.
(ii) A program flowchart is generally read from top to bottom.
(iii) Flowcharting symbols are connected together by means of flowlines.
(iv) A decision symbol may be used in determining the equality or inequality of two data items.
(v) Connectors are used to join remote portions of a flowchart.
(vi) Off-page connectors are used when a flowchart ends on one page and begins again on another page.
(vii) A terminal symbol is used at the beginning and end of a flowchart.
(viii) The flowchart is one of the best ways of documenting a program.
(ix) To construct a flowchart, one must adhere to prescribed symbols provided by the ANSI (American National Standards Institute).
(x) The programmer uses a template to aid him in drawing flowchart symbols.
Explanation (Approx. 300 words)
A flowchart is a graphical representation of an algorithm or a process, designed to illustrate the sequence of steps and the logic behind a program. It employs a set of standardized symbols to represent operations, decisions, inputs, outputs, and more. These symbols are connected by flowlines to demonstrate the flow of control and data throughout the program.
In any flowchart, the operations or tasks (e.g., calculations, data movement) and the sequence in which they are carried out are clearly shown. The general reading direction is top to bottom and left to right, which matches the natural reading order, making the process intuitive.
Flowlines are arrows that connect the symbols, showing the direction of process flow. The decision symbol, usually a diamond shape, is used when the program must choose between two or more paths based on a condition, such as checking for equality or inequality.
When flowcharts span multiple pages or distant areas, connectors (small circles or labeled symbols) and off-page connectors (pentagon shapes) help maintain continuity and clarity. The terminal symbol, typically an oval, indicates the start or end of the flowchart.
To ensure uniformity and readability, programmers follow symbol standards defined by ANSI, and often use a template — a physical or digital stencil with pre-drawn symbol shapes — to accurately draw each part of the flowchart.
Overall, flowcharts are valuable tools for documenting, planning, and communicating the logic of a program, especially in collaborative environments or during the debugging and maintenance phases.
