The instruction cycle described includes the steps Fetch, Decode, and Execute.

The instruction cycle described includes the steps Fetch, Decode, and Execute.

• A. Load, Check, Run
• B. Read, Interpret, Execute
• C. Fetch, Decode, Execute
• D. Fetch, Run, Decode

Answer: (C)

The concept being tested is how a CPU processes each instruction in a typical cycle: fetch the instruction from memory, decode what it means, and then execute it. Fetch: The processor uses the program counter to locate the next instruction in memory, grabs that instruction, and holds it in an instruction register. The program counter then moves to point to the following instruction. This step brings the instruction into the CPU so it can be understood and acted upon. Decode: The control unit examines the fetched instruction to determine the operation to perform and which operands are involved. It translates the opcode into a specific operation and sets up any necessary signals to carry out the action, such as which registers to use or which memory locations to access. Execute: The actual operation is carried out—arithmetic, logic, memory access, or I/O as dictated by the decoded instruction. The result is stored in the appropriate destination (a register or memory), and status flags may be updated. This order—fetch, then decode, then execute—is the standard sequence, while the other options use nonstandard terms or mix the steps in the wrong order.

The concept being tested is how a CPU processes each instruction in a typical cycle: fetch the instruction from memory, decode what it means, and then execute it.

Fetch: The processor uses the program counter to locate the next instruction in memory, grabs that instruction, and holds it in an instruction register. The program counter then moves to point to the following instruction. This step brings the instruction into the CPU so it can be understood and acted upon.

Decode: The control unit examines the fetched instruction to determine the operation to perform and which operands are involved. It translates the opcode into a specific operation and sets up any necessary signals to carry out the action, such as which registers to use or which memory locations to access.

Execute: The actual operation is carried out—arithmetic, logic, memory access, or I/O as dictated by the decoded instruction. The result is stored in the appropriate destination (a register or memory), and status flags may be updated.

This order—fetch, then decode, then execute—is the standard sequence, while the other options use nonstandard terms or mix the steps in the wrong order.