In which direction does a compass needle typically point?

A compass needle typically points toward the magnetic North Pole due to the Earth's magnetic field. This is because the needle itself is a small magnet with a north and south pole; the north pole of the compass needle is attracted to the Earth's magnetic field lines that converge at the North Pole. As a result, when a compass is oriented horizontally, the needle aligns itself with the magnetic field, consistently indicating the direction of true north.

The other options do not represent the natural tendency of the compass needle. It does not point east, south, or west as its primary orientation is closely aligned with north, making north the correct answer in the context of how a compass functions.