The adjective 'normative' is used to describe standards that are ...

• A. descriptive
• B. found everywhere
• C. hypothetical or uncertain
• D. prescribing or establishing norms

Answer: (D)

Normative describes standards that tell us how things ought to be. It’s about prescriptive rules, duties, or ideals that establish norms. When a standard is normative, it prescribes what should be done or what ought to be the case, not just what is observed. That’s why it fits the idea of prescribing or establishing norms.

Descriptive would describe how things are, not how they should be; the other options don’t capture the sense of rules or ideals guiding behavior, so they don’t fit as well.