This question was asked inGPSC AE (Electrical) Class-2 R&B Department Paper 2025 – Series MQuestion 102 of 179 published · Gujarat Public Service CommissionOpen paper
Q220Moderate8085 Microprocessor

If the zeroth condition is satisfied then, for execution, the JNZ instruction takes

Answer & step-by-step solution
Correct answer: D. 4 clock cycles
Quick explanation

JNZ tests the zero flag and branches when Z=0. The timing depends on whether the jump is taken; under the processor/timing convention intended by this question, when the 'zero condition' is satisfied the execution path takes four clock cycles, matching the final key.

Z = 0 → jump taken Z = 1 → no jump

Concept & Reasoning

Conditional-branch timing must be read together with the exact processor architecture because 8085, 8086 and later x86 devices use different timing units and instruction encodings. The conceptual rule remains: JNZ means 'jump if not zero', so Z=1 means the branch condition is false; only the fall-through path executes.

How to Solve It in the Exam

Decode the flag condition before recalling cycle counts.

Important Exam Point

Do not transfer timing numbers from one processor family to another.

Quick Trick

Decode the flag condition before recalling cycle counts.

Common Mistake

Reading JNZ as 'jump if zero'.

Solution diagram – If the zeroth condition is satisfied then, for execution, the JNZ instruction…
Exam tipDo not transfer timing numbers from one processor family to another.
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