QUESTION 42 Which one of the given options is correct with respect to the return statement...

The function h returns an int and receives a function pointer s (which takes two int parameters and returns an int) plus two int parameters x and y. The correct return statement must dereference and invoke the function pointer with the two arguments. Option D correctly uses (* p) (x, y) to call the function pointed to by p with arguments x and y, which returns an int. Options A and B are syntactically invalid (dereferencing a function pointer or mixing syntax incorrectly), and Option C returns a hardcoded value rather than invoking the function pointer.

Step-by-step Derivation:

1. Analyze the function signature: int h (int (* s) (int, int), int x, int y);

   • Return type: int
   • Parameter 1: int (* s) (int, int) — a pointer to a function taking two ints and returning int
   • Parameter 2: int x — integer
   • Parameter 3: int y — integer

2. To return an int, we must either:

   • Return a constant integer, OR
   • Call the function pointer s (or p in the options) with the appropriate arguments

3. Evaluate each option:

   • A) return *p; — Dereferencing a function pointer gives the function itself, not a valid return value of type int.
   • B) return (* p) (x, y) (*x, *y); — Syntax error; mixing function call with invalid dereference of integers.
   • C) return 0; — Valid syntax but ignores the function pointer parameter; not the intended use.
   • D) return (* p) (x, y); — Correctly dereferences p, invokes it with arguments x and y, and returns the resulting int.

4. Correct answer: D