Which part of the CPU is capable of executing instructions independently?

• A. Core
• B. ALU
• C. Registers
• D. Cache

Answer: (A)

Executing instructions independently is done by a core. A core encompasses the processing unit that fetches, decodes, and executes instructions, coordinating control flow and data through its internal components. The ALU is part of a core and handles arithmetic and logic inside the execution path, but it doesn’t manage the full instruction cycle by itself. Registers simply hold data needed during execution, and cache is fast memory that speeds up access to data, not a processor that runs instructions. So the core is the independent execution unit that can run instructions on its own, and multiple cores allow true parallel processing.