Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Real images can be projected onto a screen because they are formed by the actual convergence of light rays, while virtual images cannot be projected onto a screen as they appear to diverge from a point behind the lens. Real and virtual images do not have a consistent orientation (upright or inverted), so option B is incorrect. Real images are formed by both converging and diverging lenses depending on the specific scenario, so option C is not a definitive distinction. Option D is incorrect as not all the statements are true. Therefore, the only accurate general distinction between real and virtual images is that real images can be projected onto a screen, while virtual images cannot.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Pernicious anemia is caused by a deficiency in vitamin B12 (cobalamin). Vitamin B12 is essential for the production of red blood cells and for the proper functioning of the nervous system. Pernicious anemia occurs when there is a lack of intrinsic factor, a protein produced in the stomach that is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the digestive system. Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E deficiencies do not lead to pernicious anemia. Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness and skin issues, Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets or osteomalacia, and Vitamin E deficiency can result in neurological problems and muscle weakness.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: A scalar quantity is a physical quantity that has magnitude only, without any direction. Speed is an example of a scalar quantity because it only describes how fast an object is moving without specifying the direction of motion. Velocity, acceleration, and force are vector quantities because they have both magnitude and direction. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Speed.' Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because velocity, acceleration, and force are all vector quantities that involve both magnitude and direction.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Decomposers are organisms that break down dead organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, into simpler substances. By doing so, they help to recycle nutrients back into the environment, making them available for other organisms to use. This process is essential for the functioning of ecosystems, as it ensures that nutrients are not lost but instead are continuously cycled through the ecosystem. Photosynthesis (option A) is the process by which plants and some other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, and it is not a role of decomposers. Preying on herbivores (option C) is a role typically carried out by predators, not decomposers. Fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere (option D) is a process carried out by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, not decomposers.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The scrotum is the structure that surrounds and protects the testes. It plays a vital role in maintaining an optimal temperature for sperm production by adjusting the distance of the testes from the body to regulate the effects of external temperature changes. This mechanism helps to safeguard the viability and quality of sperm by ensuring they develop at the right temperature. The epididymis (Choice A) is a coiled tube where sperm mature and are stored, not the structure surrounding the testes. The vas deferens (Choice B) is a duct that carries sperm from the testes to the urethra, not the protective structure around the testes. The prostate gland (Choice D) is part of the male reproductive system, responsible for secreting fluids that nourish and protect sperm, but it is not the structure that surrounds and protects the testes for sperm production.