In the context of MIPS instruction execution, what is the function of a sign$-$extend unit?

It directly executes the instructions without processing.

It reduces the number of bits in an instruction for faster processing.

It performs logical operations on the instructions.

It increases the size of a data item to match the architecture's word size.

Question $50$

What is the purpose of the ALU control unit in the MIPS architecture?

It generates the control signals based on the instruction's function code and ALUOp bits.

It handles the memory operations like load and store.

It manages the flow of data between the registers.

It directs the operation of the program counter.