Answer:

"bugbear" .compareTo ("bugbear") zero
"bugbear" .compareTo ("Bugbear") NOT zero
"Zorba" .compareTo ("Zorba!") NOT zero
"mushroom" .compareTo ("mush room") NOT zero
"TOAD" .compareTo ("TOAD") zero

Nearly Same Strings, but Different Lengths

If the strings are not identical, you have to decide which one is less than the other. Sometimes this depends only on the length of the strings.

Rule 2: Otherwise, if string A is a prefix of string B, then A.compareTo(B) < 0.

"bat".compareTo("batcave") < 0
"apple".compareTo("applesauce") < 0
"BAT".compareTo("BATCAVE") < 0

If it is the first string that is longer, then that string is greater than the other:

"batcave".compareTo("bat") > 0
"applesauce".compareTo("apples") > 0
"BATCAVE".compareTo("BAT") > 0

In using this rule you need to pay attention to case. "BAT" is not a prefix of "batcave".

There are yet more rules ....

QUESTION 7:

Decide on the value returned by compareTo():

"bugbear" .compareTo ("bugbear")
"bug" .compareTo ("bugbear")
"pepper" .compareTo ("peppermint")
"toadstool" .compareTo ("toad")
"cat" .compareTo ("caterpillar")