Loops and Repeats

A loop means doing something again and again. Instead of writing 'jump, jump, jump, jump', what could you say?

• ARepeat 'jump' 4 times✓
• BStop jumping
• CJump 1 time
• DRepeat 'hop' 4 times

Answer: A loop lets you repeat one action, so 'repeat jump 4 times' does the same as writing jump four times.

If a robot follows 'repeat: take 1 step' 3 times, how many steps does it take?

• A1 step
• B0 steps
• C6 steps
• D3 steps✓

Answer: Repeating one step three times means the robot takes 3 steps in total.

Why do we use loops when coding?

• ATo delete our work
• BSo we don't have to write the same thing over and over✓
• CTo change the colour of the screen
• DTo make the code longer

Answer: Loops save us from repeating ourselves by doing an action again and again for us.

A song says 'row, row, row your boat'. The word 'row' is repeated. How many times is 'row' sung?

• A1 time
• B2 times
• C3 times✓
• D4 times

Answer: The word 'row' appears three times, like a loop that repeats three times.

A robot loop is 'repeat 2 times: [clap, clap]'. How many claps happen in total?

• A2 claps
• B4 claps✓
• C8 claps
• D1 clap

Answer: Two claps happen each loop and the loop runs twice, so 2 + 2 makes 4 claps.

You want to draw a square by repeating 'draw a line, turn'. How many times should you repeat it for 4 sides?

• A2 times
• B1 time
• C4 times✓
• D3 times

Answer: A square has 4 sides, so you repeat 'draw a line, turn' four times.

A loop that never stops is called a 'forever' loop. What would a robot told to 'forever: spin' do?

• AKeep spinning and never stop✓
• BWalk in a straight line
• CNever move at all
• DSpin once then stop

Answer: A forever loop keeps repeating with no end, so the robot would just keep spinning.

Which instruction uses a loop correctly to blink a light 5 times?

• ARepeat 5 times: eat a snack
• BTurn light on once
• CTurn light off forever
• DRepeat 5 times: turn light on, turn light off✓

Answer: To blink 5 times you repeat turning the light on and off five times.