The correct answer is D) All of the above. In the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, a preferred channel buoy to be left to port while proceeding downstream will have the following characteristics: 1) The upper band of the buoy will be red, indicating that the preferred channel is to the left (port) side of the buoy. 2) The buoy will show a red light if it is lighted, again signaling that the preferred channel is to the left. 3) The buoy's light characteristic, if lighted, will be composite group flashing, which is the standard for preferred channel buoys on the Western Rivers. The other answer choices are incorrect because they only address one or two of these key characteristics, while the correct answer encompasses all three.