Which of the following best explains why coastal regions tend to have milder climates compared to inland areas?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Coastal regions have milder climates due to water's high specific heat capacity (~4.18 J/g°C) and greater evaporation, moderating temperatures. Evaporation and cloud cover increase humidity, reflecting solar radiation and stabilizing heat summers cool, winters warm compared to inland. Water's albedo (~0.06) is low, absorbing more heat, not reflecting it false. Water's specific heat is higher, not lower, than land (~1 J/g°C), storing energy false. Latitude affects insolation broadly, not coast-specific false. Evaporation and clouds, tied to water's thermal inertia, buffer temperature swings, a key maritime effect (e.g., Mediterranean climates), making this the best explanation.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The esophagus is lined with stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium (B), protecting against abrasion from food while retaining flexibility. Simple squamous (A), a single thin layer, suits diffusion (e.g., alveoli), not mechanical stress. Stratified squamous keratinized (C) is in skin, with a tough, dry layer unsuitable for the moist esophagus. Simple columnar (D) lines the stomach and intestines for absorption, not esophageal function. B fits its multilayered, non-keratinized nature resists wear from swallowing, unlike the others, which serve different physiological roles.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Endothelium, lining blood vessels, is simple squamous epithelium (A), a single flat layer facilitating diffusion and minimizing friction. Simple cuboidal (B) lines tubules (e.g., kidney), not vessels. Stratified squamous (C) is protective (e.g., skin), too thick for endothelium. Transitional (D) stretches in the bladder, not relevant here. A is correct simple squamous' thinness suits endothelial gas and nutrient exchange, unlike the others' structures.