If a list is passed into a function as an argument, what happens if elements are deleted within that function?

When a list is passed into a function as an argument in Python, it is passed by reference. This means that the function receives a reference to the original list, not a copy of it. As a result, any modifications made to the list within the function, such as deleting elements, will directly affect the original list outside the function.

For example, if you pass a list to a function and then use a method like list.remove() or the del statement to delete elements from that list inside the function, those changes will be reflected in the original list after the function call is completed. This behavior is crucial for understanding how mutable objects like lists behave in Python, as it allows for changes to persist beyond the scope of the function that is modifying them.

This is why the correct choice accurately reflects the effect of modifying a list within a function.