Which statement is true about checked exceptions in Java?

• A. They can be ignored by the programmer without repercussions
• B. They must be declared or caught in method signatures
• C. They always occur at run-time
• D. They are automatically handled by the Java virtual machine

Answer: (B)

The statement that they must be declared or caught in method signatures accurately describes the behavior of checked exceptions in Java. Checked exceptions are exceptions that extend the Exception class but do not extend RuntimeException. These exceptions are checked at compile-time, meaning that the Java compiler requires that they be either handled using a try-catch block or declared in the method signature with a throws clause. This design compels the programmer to address the potential for these exceptions, enhancing code robustness and reliability.

In contrast to this, unchecked exceptions do not require such handling, which is why the incorrect options relate to ignoring exceptions, runtime occurrences, and automatic handling by the Java virtual machine, which do not apply to checked exceptions.