Mastering C++: A Comprehensive Quiz Based on 'Thinking in C++

A C++ reference acts as a constant pointer that is automatically dereferenced. This means that the reference points to the same memory location as the object it is referencing and any changes made to the reference will also affect the original object.

Option A, a new copy of the object, is incorrect because a reference does not create a new copy of the object, it just refers to it.

Option C, a dynamically allocated memory space, is incorrect because a reference does not allocate any memory, it just refers to an existing object.

Option D, a template for object creation, is incorrect because a reference does not create objects or serve as a template for object creation. It simply refers to an already existing object.