Final answer:
A program using a C compiler is executed on a host machine through the steps of preprocessing, compilation, assembly, and linking.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct sequence of steps for executing a program using a C compiler on a host machine is:
- Preprocessing: In this step, any preprocessor directives like include statements, macros, and conditional compilation are handled.
- Compilation: The source code is compiled into object code by the C compiler.
- Linking: The object code is linked with other necessary libraries to create an executable file.
- Execution: Finally, the executable is loaded into memory and executed by the computer's operating system.
Therefore, the correct option is a. Preprocessing, Compilation, Assembly, Linking.