EXERCISE 9: Iterate through a list of words

Task 1: Replace your placeholder “Start flashcards” option with a display of words stored in a list. Start by creating a list of words (since this is just practice, just a few words will do). You should add the code to do this towards the top of your file (after the header comments but before your menu) since the flashcards data will be used by code later. With your code at the moment, when users select “Start flashcards” from your menu, the program just prints “Starting flashcards…”. Now add code to print out the list of words you created, e.g.

['dog', 'cat', 'pig', 'parrot', 'cow']

Task 2: Use a for loop to display words one by one instead of just showing all the words at once. Instead of just printing out the entire sequence of words in one go. Now use a for-loop to display the words one by one.

Run and check: Run your code in the terminal to make sure it works with the command

python flashcards_app.py

When you select the “Start flashcards” option you should see the words in your word list displayed in sequence, e.g.

dog
cat
pig
parrot
cow

Read through and add comments: Add any comments in your code that will help you understand it when you come back to it later.

Save your progress: Commit with message “EXERCISE 9: Iterate through a list and tuple of words” and save your work to Github with the standard Git workflow.

(Re)read the guides:

Example solution

flashcards_app.py

# Created by: Alex Ubuntu
# Date: 01.01.2026
# Purpose: A personal flashcard trainer to help with learning

# Flashcards list
flashcards_list = ['dog', 'cat', 'pig', 'parrot', 'cow']

### INITIAL INTERACTION WITH USER
# Welcome message
print("Welcome to your personal flashcard trainer!")

# Absolute maximum number of cards so that the user can't ask for too many
ABSOLUTE_MAX_CARDS = 100
DEFAULT_MAX_CARDS = 20

# Fetch from user and save to variable
name = input("What is your name? ")
max_cards = DEFAULT_MAX_CARDS # Set a default value for max_cards

# Confirm name
print(f"\nMy name is {name}")

# Card and score variables
num_cards_completed = 0
num_cards_correct = 0
score = 0

### APP MENU LOOP
while True:
    print("\nSelect an option by entering a number")
    print("1: Set the number of cards you wish to practice")
    print("2: Start flashcards")
    print("3: Show the current score")
    print("4: Exit")
    
    
    choice = input("\nChoose an option: ")
    
    if choice == "1":

        while True:
            # More stringent validation for input for maximum number of cards
            
            # Fetch input from user but don't attempt to convert the input string 
            # to int until certain it will work 
            entered_max_cards = input("\nHow many cards would you like to practice each session? ")

            # Check if input string represents an integer
            if entered_max_cards.isdigit():

                # Convert to integer data type
                entered_max_cards = int(entered_max_cards)
            
                # Check if value is within the value range 
                # (between 1 and the absolute maximum number of cards)
                if entered_max_cards > 0 and entered_max_cards < ABSOLUTE_MAX_CARDS:
                    
                    # Set the max_cards variable with the user's preference
                    max_cards = entered_max_cards
                    # Confirm number maximum number of cards per session
                    print(f"\nI want to practice at most {max_cards} cards per session")
                    break
                else:
                    ## Let the user know what the range should be (Bonus task).
                    print(f"\nPlease enter a valid number bewteen 1 and {ABSOLUTE_MAX_CARDS}.")    
            else:
                print(f"\nPlease enter a whole number number over 0.")

            

    elif choice == "2":
        # Iterate through flashcards tuple
        for card in flashcards:
            print(card)

    elif choice == "3":

        # Handle case where no cards have been completed yet.
        if num_cards_completed <=0:
            print("You need to practice before you can get a score.")
            continue
        score = (num_cards_correct/num_cards_completed) * 100

        # Display score information
        print(f"\nYou have answered {num_cards_correct} out of {num_cards_completed} correctly. Your score so far is {score}%.")

        # Display feedback message based on score
        if score > 90 and score <= 100:
            print("Excellent work!")
        elif score > 70 and score <= 90:
            print("Good job!")
        elif score > 50 and score <= 70:
            print("Keep practicing!")
        elif score > 0 and score <= 50: 
            print("Need more study time!")
        else:
            print("Score lies outside range")
    
    elif choice == "4":
        print(f"We hope you enjoyed your practice session today, {name}.")
        
        # Display score information
        print(f"You have answered {num_cards_correct} out of {num_cards_completed} correctly. Your score for this session {score}%.")

        print("Look forward to seeing you again soon!")
        break
    
    else:
        # Clarify instruction to get valid input
        print("\nInvalid value entered. Please make sure you enter just a single digit (no other words): 1, 2, 3 or 4, to select an option.")

Take a break: ☕

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