MIPS Instruction Register

Question

If the bit pattern 0x0C000000 is placed into the Instruction Register, what MIPS instruction will be executed?

I am not sure what this question means by the Instruction Register and how it relates to a bit pattern.

Answer 1

The 32 bit MIPS instruction 0x0C000000 can be rewritten in binary like this:

000011 00000000000000000000000000
opcode target

This appears to be the jal jump and link instruction. When executed, it will cause the program to jump to the address specified in target.