Magnetic Pole Attraction

Steps:

• The North pole of a compass needle is attracted to the Earth's magnetic South pole, so it seeks opposite magnetic poles.
• End X attracts the compass's North pole, indicating X behaves as a South magnetic pole (opposites attract).
• Only ferromagnetic materials like steel can be permanently magnetized to have distinct poles; copper is non-magnetic and cannot.
• Thus, the rod must be steel with a South pole at X.

Why B is correct:

• Like poles repel and opposites attract (basic magnetic law), so a South pole at X draws the compass North pole; steel allows magnetization.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Unmagnetized copper has no magnetic poles and exerts no attraction on the compass.
• C: Copper cannot form magnetic poles due to its non-ferromagnetic nature.
• D: A North pole at X would repel the compass North pole.

Final answer: B