__ Retrieves the next program instruction from memory a. POST b. EXECUTE c. DECODE d. FETCH

The correct answer is d. FETCH.<br /><br />The process of fetching the next program instruction from memory is a crucial step in the execution of a program. This step involves retrieving the instruction from the memory location where it is stored and loading it into the CPU for further processing.<br /><br />The other options provided are not directly related to the retrieval of the next program instruction from memory:<br /><br />a. POST (Power-On Self-Test) is a diagnostic testing sequence that a computer's basic input/output system (BIOS) runs to determine whether the computer hardware is functioning correctly.<br /><br />b. EXECUTE is the process of carrying out the instruction that has been fetched from memory.<br /><br />c. DECODE is the process of interpreting the instruction and determining the specific action that the CPU needs to take.<br /><br />Therefore, the correct answer is d. FETCH.