Final answer:
The MIPS assembler recognizes pseudo instructions by translating them into actual instructions or expanding them into predefined macros.
Step-by-step explanation:
The MIPS assembler recognizes pseudo instructions by translating them into one or more actual MIPS instructions that perform the same operation. These pseudo instructions are commonly used for convenience and to make the assembly code more readable. For example, the pseudo instruction 'move $t0, $t1' is translated into two actual instructions: 'add $t0, $t1, $zero' and 'addi $t0, $t1, 0'.
Another way the assembler recognizes pseudo instructions is through predefined macros. Macros are like functions that encapsulate a set of instructions and can be called with parameters. The assembler has a predefined list of macros that include common operations. When a pseudo instruction matches one of these macros, the assembler expands it into the underlying instructions that perform the operation.
In summary, the assembler recognizes pseudo instructions by either translating them into actual MIPS instructions or expanding them into predefined macros. This allows programmers to write code using more readable and convenient instructions, while still generating the appropriate MIPS machine language instructions.