C/C++ operators — match each operator symbol (List I) with its correct description (List II). List I (Operator) A. != B. == C. << D. >> List II (Description) 1. Left shift (bitwise) 2. Right shift (bitwise) 3. Equal to (relational) 4. Not equal to (relational)

Introduction / Context:Programming interview and exam questions often test whether students can quickly recognize operator semantics. This item pairs common relational and bitwise shift operators with their meanings in C/C++ and many C-like languages.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Operators appear exactly as typed in source code.
• We distinguish relational operators (comparisons) from bitwise shifts.
• No precedence or side-effect subtleties are tested here—only meanings.

Concept / Approach:

Identify the category first (relational vs. bitwise). Then map symbols to familiar English descriptions: != means “not equal to”; == means “equal to”; << and >> mean left and right bit shifts, respectively.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Small test: 5 != 6 evaluates true; 5 == 6 evaluates false. For shifts, 1 << 3 equals 8 and 8 >> 2 equals 2, confirming the meanings.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Swapping the relational meanings (== with “not equal” or != with “equal”) inverts logic.
• Interchanging left and right shifts reverses the direction of bit movement and the power-of-two scaling.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing bitwise shifts with stream insertion/extraction operators in C++ iostreams; they reuse the symbols but are overloaded as functions, not fundamental shifts.

Final Answer:

A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2