Option B generates a compiler error: <identifier> expected. The compiler thinks you are trying to create two arrays because there are two array initialisers to the right of the equals, whereas your intention was to create one 3 x 3 two-dimensional array. To correct the problem and make option B compile you need to add an extra pair of curly brackets: int [ ] [ ] scores = { {2,7,6}, {9,3,45} };