Final answer:
The buyer's agent must disclose the $3000 bonus to the buyer to maintain transparency and adhere to professional ethical standards. It's considered a breach of trust to keep such bonuses secret, as it could create a conflict of interest.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of real estate transactions, the situation given is referring to the actions of a buyer's agent who expects to receive a bonus from the seller of a property. According to standard real estate practices and ethical guidelines, option A is true: The bonus must be disclosed to the buyer. It's important for the buyer's agent to maintain transparency with their client to ensure that there is no conflict of interest or the appearance of such. If the agent were to keep this bonus a secret from the buyer, it could be viewed as a breach of trust and professional responsibility.
Options B, C, and D are typically not acceptable responses to this situation. The bonus should not necessarily be returned to the seller (Option B), is subject to disclosure (contrary to Option C), and should not arbitrarily be donated to a charity of the buyer's choice (Option D) without proper disclosure and agreement with all involved parties.