When you see a list arranged in alphabetical order, how should that ordering be described in data-processing terms?

Introduction / Context:
Sorting is a fundamental operation in data processing and user interfaces. Understanding how to describe orderings—ascending vs. descending—and recognizing sorted results helps you communicate requirements to developers and verify outputs in reports, spreadsheets, and database queries.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Items are alphanumeric strings (e.g., names) listed A → Z.
• We want accurate terminology for such an ordering.
• We assume a typical collation where A precedes Z.

Concept / Approach:
A list arranged A through Z is ascending under the usual lexicographic collation. Achieving this order is typically the result of a sort operation by the field of interest. Descending order would be Z → A. Therefore, a properly alphabetized list is both ascending and sorted.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Database ORDER BY ... ASC and spreadsheet sorting conventions define ascending as smallest-to-largest for numbers and A-to-Z for strings.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Descending: opposite direction.
• Only ascending or only sorted: each is true but incomplete.
• None: incorrect because both descriptions apply.

Common Pitfalls:
Ignoring locale-specific collations (accents, case sensitivity); assuming that displayed order is always sorted—some UIs group or filter items before sorting.

Final Answer:
both (b) and (c)