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

The correct answer is c. 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. The CPU then decodes the instruction and carries out the necessary actions based on the instruction's contents.