why is the answer C correct ？

[tianerhu]

I think that the answer A is correct ? But the key is C. why ?   Thank you.

[Reeza]

Because there's no trailing @.

[tianerhu]

Could you give me more detail explain? Thank you .

[Reeza]

You're aware the newer SAS certification exam doesn't bother testing most of these concepts anymore? I assume you're using one of the older test exam banks that really aren't worth the paper they're printed on...

[tianerhu]

Thank you for your advise, I appreciate.

[mkeintz]

Every time there is an INPUT statement, SAS first advances to the next line of raw data after reading the designated variables.  So the input statement conditioned on "SUE" is already pointing at the next record - giving a value of 40 for age.

BUT ... if the first input  has a trailing "@", then the conditional INPUT would read from the same record.

[tianerhu]

Thank you for your help.

[Tom]

Assuming the typo's in the SAS code were fixed and the misalignment of the columns of the data is just because of the use of a proportional font in the displaying the question then C  is the right answer.  If the typos remain then it will never generate any dataset so none of the answers are right.

The question is trying to access if you understand when SAS moves to the next line of an input file.

[ballardw]

As @Tom says, the code needs to be fixed. The INFILE is spelled incorrectly and no data set would be created as posted.

67   data example;
68      in file 'something.txt';
        --
        180
ERROR 180-322: Statement is not valid or it is used out of proper order.

69      input a $;
70   run;

[tianerhu]

The typo can be ignored. We suppose it was infile.

Thank you for your help.

[tianerhu]

Thank you for your help.