16.3.3. Examples of Instructions

Try these first

1. 1.

   Define control transfer instructions.

   Hint

   Think about what these instructions do in terms of program flow.

2. 2.

   What does the program counter (PC) do?

   Hint

   Consider how a computer knows what instruction comes next.

3. 3.

   What is the primary purpose of control transfer instructions?

   • To execute arithmetic calculations
   • To manage flow control of execution
   • To store data

   Hint

   Consider what happens when a program needs to decide between multiple execution paths.

4. 4.

   A conditional jump checks for specific conditions before executing. True or False?

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think about when a jump might not happen.

5. 5.

   Consider a program with a sequence of jump instructions. Write down the sequence of operations that occur when the PC executes a jump instruction.

   Hint

   Draw a flowchart to visualize each step involved in the instruction execution.

6. 6.

   Discuss how improper use of jump instructions can lead to software bugs. Provide an example scenario.

   Hint

   Reflect on your own programming experiences with control flow.