Which term describes a direction measured using the four cardinal points?

• A. Absolute direction
• B. Relative direction
• C. Global bearing
• D. General orientation

Answer: (A)

Using the four cardinal points to describe a direction fixes it to a standard reference frame (north, east, south, west). That makes it an absolute direction: the direction is defined independently of who is looking or where you are, and it stays the same regardless of your position or orientation.

In contrast, a relative direction depends on the viewer’s point of view or current orientation (for example, left of the building, or ahead of you). The idea of a global bearing isn’t a standard way to describe directions with cardinal points, and general orientation is too vague to specify a concrete direction.