[Tutor] Python Beginners

[Vincent Balmori]

Hello. Right now I am learning the python language through Python Programming 
for the Absolute Beginner 3rd Edition. I am having trouble with one question in 
Ch. 4 #3, which says "Improve 'WordJumble so that each word is paired with a 
hint. The player should be able to see the hint if he or she is stuck. Add a 
scoring system that rewards players who solve a jumble without asking for the 
hint'". 

Right now I am having trouble with giving the 'hint' variable a value despite 
the conditions. Everything else is working fine.

# Word Jumble
#
# The computer picks a random word and then "jumbles" it
# The player has to guess the original word

import random

# create a sequence of words to choose from
WORDS = ("python", "jumble", "easy", "difficult", "answer", "xylophone")
# pick one word randomly from the sequence
word = random.choice(WORDS)
# create a variable to use later to see if the guess is correct
correct = word

# create a jumbled version of the word
jumble =""
while word:
    position = random.randrange(len(word))
    jumble += word[position]
    word = word[:position] + word[(position + 1):]

# hints for each word

hint = None
if word == "python":
        hint = ("It's a snake!!")
elif word == "jumble":
        hint = ("Shake Those Words!")
elif word == "easy":
        hint = ("Not Hard!")
elif word == "difficult":
        hint = ("Not Easy!")
elif word == "answer":
        hint = ("I ask a question you have an...")
elif word == "xylophone":
        hint = ("Metal bars with two drum sticks")

# start the game
print(
"""
           Welcome to Word Jumble!
        
   Unscramble the letters to make a word.
(Press the enter key at the prompt to quit.)
"""
)
print("The jumble is:", jumble)
print("\nFor a hint, type in 'yes'. If not, type in 'no'.")
helpcount = 0
help = input("Do you need a hint?: ")
if help == "yes":
    print(hint)
    helpcount += 1
    guess = input("\nYour guess: ")
    
elif help == "no":
    guess = input("\nYour guess: ")
    
while guess != correct and guess != "":
    print("Sorry, that's not it.")
    guess = input("Your guess: ")
 
if guess == correct:
    print("That's it!  You guessed it!")

if helpcount == 0:
    print("And you didn't even need a hint! You're awesome!\n")

print("Thanks for playing.")

input("\n\nPress the enter key to exit.")
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.python.org/pipermail/tutor/attachments/20110608/4d467d9d/attachment.html>