Mastering C++: A Comprehensive Quiz Based on 'Thinking in C++'

What is true about the initialization statement in a for loop based on the provided text?

1. It executes with each iteration of the loop

2. It is optional and executes only at the very beginning

3. Must declare a new variable

4. Cannot be empty or omitted

The correct answer is: It is optional and executes only at the very beginning

Explanation The initialization statement in a for loop is the statement that is executed at the beginning of a loop, before any iterations occur. This statement is optional, meaning it can be included or not depending on the needs of the programmer. However, if it is included, it will only be executed once at the beginning of the loop and not with every iteration. Option A is incorrect because the initialization statement only executes once, not with each iteration. Option C is incorrect because the initialization statement can declare and initialize a new variable, but it is not necessary to do so. Option D is incorrect because the initialization statement can be empty if it is not needed for the loop.