### A good answer might be:

- la --- load a register with the address corresponding to a symbolic address

# Address of a word vs. Contents of a word

Here is the fragment:

    ## linked.asm --- hard-coded linked list
    ##
              .text
              .globl main

    main:
              la   $s0,elmnt01      # get the address of
                                    # the first element

    loop:     beqz   $s0,done       # while not null

              . . .
    done:

              . . .

              .data

    elmnt01:  .word  1
              .word  elmnt02

    elmnt02:  .word  2
              .word elmnt03

              . . .

Bug Alert! To get the address in memory corresponding to a symbolic address, use the `la` instruction. The `lw` loads the value stored at that address.

In this program, register `$s0` contains the address of each node as it is visited. So to start it out correctly use the `la` instruction.

### QUESTION 12:

Examine this fragment:

              la      $s0,head
              lw      $s1,head
              . . .

              .data
    head:     .word   7

Which register, `$s0` or `$s1`, contains the value `7` after this fragment executes?