Once the instruction has been loaded into main memory, the address of the first instruction is copied into:
Correct answer: C. Program Counter (PC)
- A. Memory Buffer Register (MBR)
- B. Instruction Register (IR)
- C. Program Counter (PC)
- D. Memory Address Register (MAR)
Explanation
The PC is a special-purpose CPU register that stores the memory address of the next instruction to be fetched from memory. The CU (Control Unit) uses the PC to keep track of the program flow. After an instruction is fetched from memory and loaded into the IR (Instruction Register) for processing, the PC is typically incremented to point to the address of the next instruction in the sequence. This ensures the CPU fetches instructions sequentially unless a jump instruction or branch instruction alters the normal execution flow.
Last updated
About Hardware and Software
Hardware includes the physical components of a computer, such as the CPU, motherboard, registers, memory, storage devices and peripheral equipment. Software covers system software, application software, utilities, drivers and firmware, with attention to how the operating system manages hardware and how software differs from the physical equipment it controls.
Practise Hardware and Software
290 free Hardware and Software MCQs from Computer Science and IT, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Exams that ask Computer Science and IT questions like this
Computer Science and IT is on 40 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.