According to the Text, an Orbiting Object Having Energy $E<0$ Follows an Elliptical Orbit

Multiple Choice

According to the text, an orbiting object having energy $E<0$ follows an elliptical orbit. When we specify the numerical value for an object's energy, we are implicitly comparing it to the energy the object has in some reference situation. So, when we say that $E<0$ in this case, we are comparing the energy of the orbiting object to the energy of an object with the same mass that is

A) At rest at the primary's center.
B) At rest on the primary's surface.
C) In a circular orbit just above the primary's surface.
D) At rest at $r=\infty$ .
E) Some other situation (specify) .