The correct answer is: C. External interrupts

External interrupts are the most common method for connecting a peripheral to a processor. An external interrupt is a signal that is generated by a peripheral device to indicate that an event has occurred. The processor can then respond to this event by executing a specific interrupt service routine (ISR).

Software is a set of instructions that are used to control the operation of a computer. Software can be used to control the peripheral devices that are connected to a computer. However, software is not the most common method for connecting a peripheral to a processor.

An exception is an event that causes the processor to stop executing the current instruction and jump to a special location in memory. Exceptions can be caused by hardware errors, software errors, or by user input. Exceptions are not the most common method for connecting a peripheral to a processor.

Internal interrupts are interrupts that are generated by the processor itself. Internal interrupts are used to handle events such as timer interrupts and keyboard interrupts. Internal interrupts are not the most common method for connecting a peripheral to a processor.

In conclusion, the most common method for connecting a peripheral to a processor is through external interrupts.