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Quiz 6: LLM API Integration

Test your understanding of API integration concepts and parameters.

Questions

Question 1 (Remember)

What does REST API stand for?

  1. Rapid Execution Service Technology
  2. Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface
  3. Remote System Transfer API
  4. Real-time Streaming Technology
Answer

B) Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface - REST is an architectural style for web services that uses standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, etc.) to interact with resources.

Question 2 (Remember)

What is the purpose of an API key?

  1. To encrypt messages
  2. To increase response speed
  3. To authenticate and identify the calling application
  4. To reduce token count
Answer

C) To authenticate and identify the calling application - API keys verify the identity of applications making requests and track usage for billing and rate limiting purposes.

Question 3 (Understand)

What does the temperature parameter control in LLM APIs?

  1. Processing speed
  2. Randomness/creativity of outputs
  3. Cost per request
  4. Maximum context length
Answer

B) Randomness/creativity of outputs - Temperature (0-2) controls output variability. Lower values produce more focused, deterministic responses; higher values produce more creative, varied outputs.

Question 4 (Understand)

What is the relationship between tokens and API pricing?

  1. Pricing is fixed regardless of tokens
  2. Costs are typically calculated per 1,000 tokens processed
  3. Only output tokens are charged
  4. Tokens have no impact on pricing
Answer

B) Costs are typically calculated per 1,000 tokens processed - Most LLM APIs charge based on input and output token counts, with prices varying by model capability. Understanding token usage is essential for cost management.

Question 5 (Apply)

You need deterministic, reproducible outputs for a compliance application. How should you configure the API?

  1. Temperature = 1.5, no seed
  2. Temperature = 0, fixed seed value
  3. Maximum temperature, random seed
  4. Default settings
Answer

B) Temperature = 0, fixed seed value - Temperature 0 minimizes randomness, and a fixed seed (where supported) ensures identical inputs produce identical outputs for reproducibility.

Question 6 (Apply)

Your API calls are being rejected with rate limit errors. What's the appropriate response?

  1. Send more requests immediately
  2. Switch to a different model
  3. Implement exponential backoff and request queuing
  4. Ignore the errors
Answer

C) Implement exponential backoff and request queuing - Rate limiting requires backing off (waiting longer between retries) and queuing requests to stay within limits while ensuring all requests eventually complete.

Question 7 (Analyze)

Compare streaming responses versus standard responses in terms of user experience and complexity:

  1. Streaming is simpler to implement
  2. Standard responses are always faster
  3. Streaming improves perceived speed but adds implementation complexity
  4. They are identical in all aspects
Answer

C) Streaming improves perceived speed but adds implementation complexity - Streaming delivers tokens as they're generated (better UX), but requires handling partial responses and managing connection state (more complex code).

Question 8 (Analyze)

Why might you choose the OpenAI API over the Anthropic API for a specific project?

  1. OpenAI is always cheaper
  2. Anthropic has no API
  3. Different strengths: ecosystem/plugins (OpenAI) vs. long context/reasoning (Anthropic)
  4. There is no meaningful difference
Answer

C) Different strengths: ecosystem/plugins (OpenAI) vs. long context/reasoning (Anthropic) - API choice depends on requirements: OpenAI offers broader ecosystem and plugins; Anthropic offers longer context and different reasoning characteristics.

Question 9 (Evaluate)

Your team is debating API cost optimization strategies. Which approach provides the best balance of cost and quality?

  1. Always use the cheapest model
  2. Always use the most expensive model
  3. Route simple queries to cheaper models; use premium models for complex tasks
  4. Ignore costs entirely
Answer

C) Route simple queries to cheaper models; use premium models for complex tasks - Intelligent routing matches query complexity to model capability, using efficient models for simple tasks and reserving expensive models for tasks that require them.

Question 10 (Create)

Design an API integration architecture for a high-volume customer service application with: variable query complexity, cost constraints, and uptime requirements.

  1. Single API endpoint, no caching
  2. Premium model only, no optimization
  3. Load balancing, model routing by complexity, response caching, fallback providers
  4. Manual API calls
Answer

C) Load balancing, model routing by complexity, response caching, fallback providers - Enterprise architecture requires: load balancing (scale), routing (cost optimization), caching (efficiency), and fallbacks (reliability).

Score Interpretation

  • 9-10 correct: Excellent understanding of API integration
  • 7-8 correct: Good grasp, review missed concepts
  • 5-6 correct: Fair understanding, revisit chapter sections
  • Below 5: Re-read Chapter 6 before proceeding

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