Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The main obstacle to achieving controlled nuclear fusion on Earth for energy production involves a combination of factors. A) Lack of suitable materials to handle high temperatures and pressures is a significant challenge due to the extreme conditions required for fusion reactions. B) Limited availability of fusion fuels like deuterium and tritium can pose a constraint on the scalability and sustainability of fusion energy. C) Difficulty in containing the plasma where fusion occurs is another critical issue as plasma instabilities and heat losses can hinder the efficiency of fusion reactions. Therefore, all of the options (A, B, and C) contribute to the challenges in achieving controlled nuclear fusion for energy production on Earth.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Ductility is the property of a substance that allows it to be drawn into thin wires without breaking. Conductivity refers to the ability of a substance to conduct electricity or heat, not to be drawn into wires. Viscosity is the measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, not related to the ability to be drawn into wires. Malleability is the property of a substance that allows it to be hammered or rolled into thin sheets, not specifically related to being drawn into wires. Therefore, the correct property for the ability to be drawn into thin wires is ductility.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: An isotonic solution is a solution that has the same concentration of solute as another solution. When cells are placed in an isotonic solution, there is no net movement of water across the cell membrane, maintaining equilibrium. Choice A, a saturated solution, refers to a solution that contains the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved at a given temperature. Choice B, an unsaturated solution, is a solution that contains less solute than a saturated solution under the same conditions. Choice D, a concentrated solution, is a solution with a high amount of solute compared to the solvent.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: To transport oxygen. Red blood cells play a crucial role in carrying oxygen from the lungs to all the tissues and organs in the body. This oxygen transport is essential for cellular respiration, where oxygen is used in the production of energy. Red blood cells do not primarily transport nutrients, fight infection, or produce antibodies. Choice A is incorrect because while red blood cells do carry some nutrients, their primary function is to transport oxygen. Choice C is incorrect because immune cells, not red blood cells, are responsible for fighting infections. Choice D is incorrect as antibody production is mainly carried out by specialized white blood cells, not red blood cells.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: - Polygenic inheritance refers to the situation where a trait is influenced by multiple genes, each contributing a small effect to the phenotype. These traits often show continuous variation and are not easily categorized into discrete categories. - Pleiotropy, on the other hand, occurs when a single gene influences multiple, seemingly unrelated traits. This means that a mutation in one gene can lead to multiple phenotypic effects across different traits or characteristics. - Therefore, the key difference between polygenic inheritance and pleiotropy lies in the number of genes involved in influencing a trait (multiple genes in polygenic inheritance vs. one gene in pleiotropy) and the direction of influence (one trait affected by multiple genes in polygenic inheritance vs. multiple traits affected by one gene in pleiotropy).