Mass haul (mass diagram) — identify the correct statements about slope sign, volume interpretation, and haul from a mass diagram. Choose the most comprehensive option.

Introduction / Context:
Mass diagrams (mass haul curves) are cumulative-volume plots used in highway and railway earthwork planning. They help identify where cut balances fill, the quantity to be moved, the direction of haul, and average haul distances. Correct interpretation of slopes, extrema, and loop areas is crucial for economical earthmoving strategies.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Mass diagram ordinate represents cumulative earthwork relative to a datum.
• Sign convention: increasing ordinate with cut; decreasing with fill (embankment).
• Balancing line connects points of equal cumulative volume for haul analysis.

Concept / Approach:
A downward slope with chainage typically indicates net embankment (fill), while an upward slope indicates net cutting. Vertical differences between characteristic points yield total volumes in each section, and the area of a loop (between curve and balancing line) represents the haul, i.e., volume * average haul distance in that direction.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Check that total cut equals total fill when the balancing line is correctly placed; loop areas on either side quantify hauls in opposite directions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Each individual statement is correct; the only fully correct choice is the combined option that includes all of them.

Common Pitfalls:
Misinterpreting sign conventions; always confirm how the mass curve was constructed before drawing conclusions.

Final Answer:
All of the above