Which internal CPU register holds the memory address of the next machine instruction to be fetched and executed by the processor?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Program counter
- Step 1: The Program Counter (PC) automatically increments after each instruction fetch to point to the subsequent memory address. Step 2. It alters its sequential count when branch or jump instructions occur. Answer: Program counter. Why not the others: The instruction register holds the instruction currently being decoded; memory data register buffers data; accumulator stores arithmetic results.
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