To answer this question, you need to understand JCL (Job Control Language) and its limitations.
JCL is a scripting language used on IBM mainframe systems to control batch processing. Each line of JCL has a maximum length that must be adhered to for the JCL to be processed correctly.
The correct answer is A) 71.
The maximum length of a single line of JCL is 71 characters. This limitation is due to the historical restrictions of punched cards, which were used as input for mainframe systems. Punched cards typically had 80 columns, but the last 9 columns were reserved for sequence numbers and other control information. Therefore, only the first 71 columns of a punched card were used for JCL statements.
While the correct answer is A) 71, it's worth noting that modern JCL systems can often handle lines of up to 80 characters. However, to ensure compatibility with older systems and to maintain consistency, it is generally recommended to limit JCL statements to 71 characters.