Which of the following represents the main responsibility of the Central Processing Unit?

The main responsibility of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) is executing program instructions. This involves fetching instructions from memory, decoding what those instructions mean, and then carrying out the required operations, whether they involve calculations, data manipulation, or controlling other hardware components.

The CPU acts as the brain of the computer, processing information and managing tasks by executing a sequence of instructions contained within programs. This core function is essential for the smooth operation of all software applications, as they rely on the CPU to perform their required actions.

While transferring data between devices, providing long-term storage, and displaying graphical content are important functions in computer systems, these tasks are typically managed by other components, such as the storage devices, graphics processing units (GPUs), and input/output systems. The CPU's primary role remains focused on the execution of instructions, which is fundamental to computing processes.