Which of these statements is accurate regarding sorting variables?

The choice indicating that sorting can utilize both ascending and descending orders is accurate. In SAS, the procedures for sorting data, such as the SORT procedure, allow the user to specify the order in which they want the data arranged. By default, variables are sorted in ascending order, but you have the option to use the DESCENDING keyword to sort in descending order. This flexibility enables users to effectively manage and display their data according to their specific analytical needs.

Other choices present limitations or misconceptions about the sorting process. For example, it is possible to sort by multiple variables, not just one, thereby providing more granularity in how data is organized. Sorting does not preserve the original order of the dataset; rather, it rearranges the data based on the specified sort criteria. Additionally, the order of the variables specified does matter, as SAS will sort the data primarily by the first variable listed and then by subsequent variables as secondary criteria, should there be ties.