Final answer:
The major function of a computer from the options provided is processing, which is pivotal in manipulating data. Processing is one of the four core functions of a computer system, alongside input, output, and storage. For the functions of memory, the answer is encoding, storage, and retrieval.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the student's question about the four major functions of a computer is c) processing. This term refers to the computer's ability to manipulate data by performing computations, sorting data, filtering lists, rendering images, and much more. The four major functions of a computer system are commonly listed as input, processing, output, and storage. None of the other options provided, such as handling, indexing, or verification, are commonly recognized as one of these four primary functions.
In relation to the three functions of memory, the correct answer is d) encoding, storage, and retrieval. This explains the sequence in which information is first transformed into a form that can be stored in the memory, preserved over time, and then accessed or 'retrieved' from memory when needed.