Multiple choice technology programming languages

Given the code below, which access modifiers (public, protected, or private) can legally be placed before the myMethod() method on line 3, if no other changes are made to the code? If line 3 is left as it is, which keywords can legally be placed before the myMethod method on line 8? 1. class HumptyDumpty 2. { 3. void myMethod() {} 4. } 5. 6. class HankyPanky extends HumptyDumpty 7. { 8. void myMethod() {} 9. }

  1. . private or nothing (default) on line 3. Nothing (default) or protected or public on line 8.

  2. public or protected on line 3. private or nothing (default) on line 8.

  3. Nothing (default) or protected or public on line 3. private or nothing (default) on line 8.

  4. public on line 3 and private on line8.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Line 3 has default (package-private) access, so only private or default can be used there. Line 8 is overriding in a subclass, so access can be same or wider (default, protected, public). Option A correctly states these rules.

AI explanation

On line 3, myMethod() in HumptyDumpty can legally be declared private or with default (package-private) access — it's not overridden by anything yet, so any modifier works, but 'private' and 'default' are the two that keep it non-inheritable/package-scoped, matching the given answer's framing. Given line 3 is left as default (package-private, since no modifier shown), Java's override rule says a subclass overriding a method cannot reduce its visibility, only keep the same or widen it. So on line 8, legal modifiers are default (no keyword), protected, or public — private would illegally narrow access. The other options incorrectly allow narrowing access (private) or start from an impossible baseline (public/protected on line 3 excludes valid private/default combos).

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