Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Introducing Lists Using Lists Continental

Posted by LEFFLER RAMEY
LEFFLER RAMEY
2,812 Points

I am having trouble calling the list "A" list items in this challenge.

I've tried [0, 3, 5, 6] in different methods, including creating a new list and calling that. I'm genuinely stuck on this portion and can't find any clarification in the video for calling list items by character. Much appreciated!

continents.py 
continents = [
    'Asia',
    'South America',
    'North America',
    'Africa',
    'Europe',
    'Antarctica',
    'Australia',
]
for c in continents :
    print("* " + c)

2 Answers

jb30
jb30
44,805 Points

To get the first letter of the string c, you could use c[0]. You could then compare the first letter to 'A'.

Another way would be to use the startswith method on your string, such as s.startswith('A') which will give you either true or false.

LEFFLER RAMEY
LEFFLER RAMEY
2,812 Points

I'm just stumped here. I tried "if c[0] = "A" " and got a syntax error. We haven't learned anything about the "startswith" method yet. To be clear I have to call continents that start with an 'A' and list them. This exact method hasn't been taught in the video prior to this, I cannot figure a way around this. The hint says "HINT: Remember that you can access characters in a string by index".

jb30
jb30
44,805 Points

c[0] = "A" tries to assign the value "A" to c[0]. c[0] == "A" compares the values.

LEFFLER RAMEY
LEFFLER RAMEY
2,812 Points
LEFFLER RAMEY
LEFFLER RAMEY
2,812 Points

for c in continents :
if c[0] == "A" print("* " + c) I'm getting syntax error on what I thought would make total sense. Any help here with layout of proper syntax would be much appreciated, this is the first challenge that's left me stuck and i've been thinking on it since yesterday. I may not be built for this, haha.

jb30
jb30
44,805 Points 
for c in continents :
    if c[0] == "A": 
        print("* " + c)

You were missing the colon at the end of your if statement.