extract answer from multiple choice question based on user input

Question

The problem: user enters an answer (a,b,c,d). the program should match from database and get the exact full answer.

Example:

What is 9 + 1?
a. 9
b. 10
c. 5
d. 21

When user writes (b) the program should get the answer which is (10)

here is what i did:

private string Answer(string question, string answer)
        {
            string userans = null;
            try
            {
                if (question != null || answer != null)
                {

                    string[] inputSplit = question.ToString().Split(new string[] { "\n" }, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
                    for (int i = 0; i < inputSplit.Length; i++)
                    {
                        if (inputSplit[i].Contains(answer + "."))
                        {
                            userans = inputSplit[i].Split('.')[1];
                            return userans;
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            userans = null;
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
            catch (Exception e)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
            }
            return userans;
        }

The question is: How i can avoid using Loop and extract the same result?. or is there a better way to do it?

Why are you calling ToString on question? It's already a string. — juharr
– juharr, Commented Aug 20, 2020 at 16:53
An Object Oriented approach would eliminate loops and make everything simpler: A class with a Question, N answers and an indicator which is the correct one. Correct database storage may offer even more learning opportunities. — Ňɏssa Pøngjǣrdenlarp
– Ňɏssa Pøngjǣrdenlarp, Commented Aug 20, 2020 at 17:00

Wai Ha Lee · Accepted Answer · 2020-08-20 18:40:42Z

0

You could use Regex to create groups for each multiple choice option and then extract the answer that way.

This solutions assumes you only ever have 4 options and uses the format you used in the question. You will also want to add some input validation but this is the general idea.

public string GetAnswer(string question, string userAnswer)
{
    var regexPattern = "a\\. (\\w+)\r\nb\\. (\\w+)\r\nc\\. (\\w+)\r\nd\\. (\\w+)";
    var match = Regex.Match(question, regexPattern);

    if (match.Success)
    {
        switch (userAnswer)
        {
            case "a":
                return match.Groups[1].Value;

            case "b":
                return match.Groups[2].Value;

            case "c":
                return match.Groups[3].Value;

            case "d":
                return match.Groups[4].Value;
        }
    }

    throw new Exception("Failed to parse the question.");
}

edited Aug 20, 2020 at 18:40

Wai Ha Lee

8,856102 gold badges61 silver badges100 bronze badges

answered Aug 20, 2020 at 17:01

Blake

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3 Comments

Amod Over a year ago

Group group = Regex.Match(question, "a",RegexOptions.IgnoreCase); you mean this way? if not please provide an example

Blake Over a year ago

This solution addresses the question you originally asked but I think a better solution would be to create a class with some properties like public string Question and public List<string> PossibleAnswers and then have the user enter the integer index for the multiple choice answer. Then you could extract the answer from the List using the index.

Amod Over a year ago

true, but this wont be used a lot because some users enter the question and other answer it so im using this to fill the database with these question instead of doing it manually.

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