Costs that change in respect to changes in the level of activity are referred to as:

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

In cost behavior analysis, costs are categorized by how they react to changes in activity level. Let’s evaluate each option one by one.
Option a: Direct cost. Direct costs are those that can be traced to a specific cost object, such as a particular product or department, but they do not inherently change with the level of activity in the abstract. Their traceability is the key feature, not their sensitivity to activity level. Therefore, this option does not describe costs that fluctuate with activity levels.
Option b: Fixed costs. Fixed costs remain constant in total regardless of the level of activity within a relevant range. They do not vary with production or sales volume (per unit, they do change, but in total they stay the same). Since the question specifies costs that change with activity, fixed costs are not the correct fit. 
Option c: Variable costs. Variable costs change in direct proportion to changes in activity level. As activity increases or decreases, the total amount of variable costs moves accordingly (e.g., materials, direct labor that varies with production). This description matches the concept in question. 
Option d: Semi-variable costs. Also known as mixed costs, semi-variable costs have both fixed and variable components. Part of the cost remains fixed regardless of activity, while another part varies with activity. While they do change with activity, they do so not in a purely proportional way, complicating their classification. The wording in the question points to costs that change with activity level in a straightforward, proportional manner, which aligns better with variable costs.
Taken together, the statements align most closely with the idea of costs that move with activity in a direct, proportional fashion, contrasting with costs that are fixed, purely traceable, or mixed in nature.

Costs that change in respect to changes in the level of activity are referred to as:

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