Step 1: A normal (Gaussian) curve is symmetrical about the mean, and the area under it represents the proportion of observations falling within a given range.
Step 2: The empirical rule gives the standard coverage: mean +/- 1 SD covers about 68% of values, mean +/- 2 SD covers about 95%, and mean +/- 3 SD covers about 99.7% of values.
Step 3: The question asks specifically for 1 SD, so the area is 68%. 95% corresponds to 2 SD and 100% would require the entire infinite range, so they are incorrect.