Statistical Analysis System (SAS) Programming Certification Practice Exam

If you submit the following program, which variables will appear in the new data set?

1. none

2. Weight

3. Age, Group

4. Age, Weight, Group

The correct answer is: Weight

To determine which variables will appear in the new data set after running the SAS program, it is essential to understand how variable selection works in the context of the data manipulation that the program performs. The correct answer highlights that only the variable "Weight" is included in the output data set. This outcome often occurs in SAS when a program contains specific statements that either drop unwanted variables or keep only those that are explicitly defined in a data step or procedure. If the program primarily focuses on the "Weight" variable through actions such as calculations, conditional statements, or specific output specifications, it would likely lead to the retention of only this variable. The presence of the other variables, such as "Age" and "Group," is dependent on the stated operations within the SAS program. Without a method to retain or include those variables, they would not be part of the final output. In summary, the resulting data set from the given program will exclusively include the "Weight" variable, confirming that this is the correct and most accurate choice based on the context of the program's behavior.