In algorithmic control structures, the recipe instruction 'Beat until smooth' best exemplifies which structure?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Repetition (loop until a condition is met)

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Programming logic is commonly expressed with three fundamental control structures: sequence, selection, and repetition. Everyday instructions, such as those in cooking recipes, often map neatly to these structures. The phrase 'Beat until smooth' specifies an action repeated until a condition is satisfied, making it a clear example of repetition (iteration).


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • An action (beating) must continue while the mixture is not smooth.
  • There is an explicit termination condition: mixture is smooth.
  • No branching among alternatives is implied.


Concept / Approach:
Repetition means executing a block multiple times controlled by a condition. In pseudocode, this might be 'while mixture_not_smooth do beat()'. Sequencing would perform the action exactly once; selection would choose among actions; switching handles multiple discrete cases. Only repetition captures "keep doing this until...".


Step-by-Step Solution:

1) Identify the verb (beat) and the stopping rule (until smooth). 2) Map to a loop: continue beating while the stop condition is false. 3) Stop once the mixture becomes smooth; proceed to the next step.


Verification / Alternative check:
Replace 'until' with a Boolean: while not smooth, repeat. This confirms a loop, not a one-time step or branch among options.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Control is too generic and does not name a specific structure. Selection implies if/else which is not present here. Sequence would execute just once without a condition. Switching handles many cases but still is not a loop.


Common Pitfalls:
Confusing 'until' with a one-time instruction or missing the implicit test condition that determines loop exit.


Final Answer:
Repetition (loop until a condition is met).

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