What section of a book lists topics and their associated page numbers for quick reference?

The section of a book that lists topics along with their associated page numbers for quick reference is called the index. An index provides an organized way for readers to find specific information efficiently by listing keywords or subjects alphabetically with corresponding page numbers. This allows readers to quickly locate the information they are interested in without having to sift through the entire text.

In contrast, the table of contents typically outlines the main sections or chapters of a book in the order they appear, but it does not provide detailed topics like an index does. The appendix usually contains supplementary material or additional resources that support the main text, while the bibliography lists references or sources that were cited in the book. Each of these sections serves a different purpose, but for the specific function of quickly locating topics, the index is the most appropriate choice.