2 questions about scope

[Gabriel Zachmann]

I am relatively new to python, but i know some other languages, such as C++,
fairly well.
After reading up a little bit in the reference manual, section 4.1,
and searching this NG, i still have 2 questions about python's scoping
rules.

1. Exactly what are the major differences between python's and C++ scoping
   rules?

2. Why is it that 'while', 'for', etc., don't introduce a new block?
   (so that variables bound inside those blocks would be local to those
   blocks only?)

I will be most grateful for all insights or pointers to literature.

Best regards,
Gabriel.

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