Quick introduction to reverse engineering for beginners

loc_804840A:
loc_804842E:
loc_804843D:
loc_8048443:
loc_8048444:
mov eax, [ebp+var_8]
movzx eax, byte ptr [eax]
test al, al
jz short loc_804842E
mov eax, [ebp+var_C]
movzx eax, byte ptr [eax]
test al, al
jz short loc_804842E
mov eax, [ebp+var_8]
movzx edx, byte ptr [eax]
mov eax, [ebp+var_C]
movzx eax, byte ptr [eax]
cmp dl, al
jz short loc_8048402
mov eax, [ebp+var_C]
movzx eax, byte ptr [eax]
test al, al
jnz short loc_804843D
mov eax, [ebp+var_4]
jmp short locret_8048453
add [ebp+var_4], 1
jmp short loc_8048444
nop
locret_8048453:
leave
retn
f endp
4.1.5 Task 1.5
mov eax, [ebp+var_4]
movzx eax, byte ptr [eax]
test al, al
jnz short loc_80483F4
mov eax, 0
This task is rather on knowledge than on reading code.
The function is taken from OpenWatcom. Compiled in MSVC 2010 with /Ox flag.
_DATA SEGMENT
COMM __v:DWORD
_DATA ENDS
PUBLIC __real@3e45798ee2308c3a
131