Final answer:
The correct answer to a top-down approach to programming is option C, which includes statements I, II, and III, as they encompass working from the general to the specific, postponing minor decisions, and employing a systematic approach.
Step-by-step explanation:
A top-down approach to programming involves starting from the general to the specific and systematically postponing minor decisions, ensuring a structured development process. The correctness of the statements provided in the question can be assessed as follows:
- Statement I: Working from the general to the specific is characteristic of a top-down approach.
- Statement II: Postponing the minor decisions can indeed be part of a top-down approach, preventing getting caught up in details too early.
- Statement III: A systematic approach is true for a top-down methodology as well as others, but it isn't exclusive or defining for top-down alone.
- Statement IV: Intermediate coding of the problem is not necessarily a trait of the top-down approach; it's more associated with the process itself regardless of the approach.
Considering these points, the correct answer that represents a top-down approach to programming is option C, which includes statements I, II, and III only, omitting statement IV.