Choice "A" is correct. Absolute conformance is the most rigorous standard of quality because it represents a perfect, or ideal, level of compliance.
Choice "d" is incorrect. Goalpost conformance assumes a range of acceptable results. Because it represents achievement of compliance within an established range of tolerable error, goalpost conformance is considered less rigorous than absolute conformance.
Choice "b" is incorrect. Conforming costs are those preventative and appraisal costs invested to detect and prevent errors and do not represent quality standards.
Choice "c" is incorrect. Nonconforming costs are those internal and external failures associated with correcting quality errors associated with non-compliance and do not represent quality standards.