The correct answer is C. The DATA step and PROC PRINT steps ran without errors. In the SAS log shown, there is a clear error in the PROC SORT step because of the use of an incorrect option by ascending Increase which caused the 'Variable ASCENDING not found' error. However, the DATA step completed successfully, as indicated by the 'NOTE' that follows it, confirming that 56 observations were read from the SASHELP.SHOES data set where Region is Africa. Additionally, the PROC PRINT step also completed successfully, indicated by the 'NOTE' at the bottom of the log which confirms that 56 observations were read from the WORK.AFRICA data set, implying the PROC PRINT step executed without issue.

A is incorrect because the error in PROC SORT did not cause the program to stop; SAS continued processing the next steps. B is incorrect because the PROC SORT step did not run successfully. D is incorrect because the PROC PRINT step did not fail; it ran successfully.

SAS documentation on error messages.

Understanding the SAS log and error messages.