Which statement correctly distinguishes a convex lens from a concave lens for rays initially parallel to the optical axis?

• A. A convex lens bends parallel rays toward a focal point on the far side and has positive focal length; a concave lens bends parallel rays away as if from the near focal point and has negative focal length.
• B. A convex lens bends parallel rays away from the near focal point and has negative focal length; a concave lens bends them toward the far focal point and has positive focal length.
• C. Both convex and concave lenses bend parallel rays toward a focal point on the far side, but only the convex lens has nonzero focal length.
• D. Both convex and concave lenses bend parallel rays away from the lens, but the sign of focal length depends only on object distance.

Answer: (A)