Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Sign, Zero, Auxiliary Carry, Parity, Carry
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question checks knowledge of the condition flags provided by the Intel 8085 microprocessor. The flag register contains individual bits that are set or cleared by arithmetic and logical operations to indicate conditions such as zero result, sign, or carry. These flags are then used by conditional branch instructions to alter the program flow. Knowing the names and roles of these flags is fundamental for writing and understanding 8085 assembly programs.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The Intel 8085 has five primary condition flags: Sign flag S, Zero flag Z, Auxiliary Carry flag AC, Parity flag P, and Carry flag CY. These flags reflect the result of the most recent arithmetic or logical instruction. For example, the Zero flag is set if the result is zero, and the Carry flag is set if an addition produces a carry out of the most significant bit. The Parity flag indicates whether the number of ones in the result is even. The Sign flag reflects the most significant bit for signed operations, and the Auxiliary Carry flag helps with Binary Coded Decimal adjustments. This set of five names exactly matches option A.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the standard five flags in the 8085 flag register: Sign, Zero, Auxiliary Carry, Parity, and Carry.Step 2: Examine option A and verify that it lists these five names exactly.Step 3: Check the other options for non 8085 specific flags such as Overflow, Negative, or Direction that belong to other architectures.Step 4: Confirm that no other option replicates the correct 8085 set.Step 5: Select option A as the correct list of condition flags for the 8085 microprocessor.
Verification / Alternative check:
Any standard reference on the 8085 displays the flag register with bit positions labeled S, Z, AC, P, and CY. These labels are explained in detail, and no additional condition flags such as Overflow or Negative are defined in the 8085 architecture. By comparing this official list with the option sets, it becomes clear that only option A provides the correct set of flag names. The presence of names like Overflow and Direction in other options indicates that those options draw from different processors such as x86 or other architectures.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B includes Overflow and Negative flags, which are not part of the 8085 flag register. Option C lists flags like Interrupt, Direction, and Trap, which do not appear as individual condition flags in the 8085 status word. Option D mixes valid names like Carry and Zero with non existent flags such as Mode and Segment. Option E combines Parity with names such as Stack and Program, which are not condition flags. Therefore none of these options accurately describes the 8085 flag register.
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to learn flag names from a different architecture, such as the Overflow or Sign flags in larger processors, and assume they apply directly to the 8085. Another pitfall is to treat any interesting term as a flag without checking the actual register diagram. To avoid confusion, students should memorize the exact five 8085 flags and their abbreviations: S, Z, AC, P, and CY.
Final Answer:
The 8085 flag register contains the condition flags Sign, Zero, Auxiliary Carry, Parity, and Carry, as listed in option A.
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