# directives must be present

before the main() function
after the main() function
at the end of the program
anywhere in the program body E. None of the above

The correct answer is: A. before the main() function.

directives are used to control the compilation of a program. They must be present before the main() function, as the compiler needs to know about them in order to compile the program correctly.

Option B is incorrect because # directives must be present before the main() function.

Option C is incorrect because # directives must be present before the main() function.

Option D is incorrect because # directives must be present before the main() function.

Option E is incorrect because # directives must be present before the main() function.