Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The ribcage is the correct answer. It protects the lungs by providing structural support and shielding them from injury. The femur is a bone in the thigh and does not protect the lungs. The scapula is a shoulder blade bone, and the skull protects the brain, not the lungs.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct order of formed elements in blood from smallest to largest cell size is thrombocytes (platelets), erythrocytes (red blood cells), and leukocytes (white blood cells), making choice C the correct answer. Thrombocytes are the smallest, followed by erythrocytes, and then leukocytes. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not follow the correct order of cell size in blood formed elements.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Rugae are folds in the stomach lining that increase its surface area. This increased surface area allows for more efficient digestion and absorption of nutrients in the stomach. Choice A is incorrect because rugae do not directly affect the output of gastric juices. Choice C is incorrect because rugae do not impact the permeability of the stomach walls. Choice D is incorrect because rugae do not influence the types of nutrients that can diffuse.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: In a neutral aluminum atom with 13 electrons, the electron distribution typically follows the electron shell filling order based on the Aufbau principle. The first shell can hold a maximum of 2 electrons, the second shell can hold up to 8 electrons, and the third shell can hold up to 8 electrons as well. Therefore, the distribution would be 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 electrons in the second shell, and 3 electrons in the third shell, totaling 13 electrons. Choice A is incorrect as it exceeds the maximum number of electrons the shells can hold. Choice B is incorrect as it does not distribute the electrons correctly among the shells. Choice D is incorrect as it also does not distribute the electrons correctly among the shells.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The weight of the fish is the dependent variable in this study because it is the outcome being measured in response to the varying feeding amounts. The weight of the fish changes based on the feeding regimen, making it the dependent variable. The type of food used (choice B), number of fish tanks (choice C), and frequency of feedings (choice D) are not the dependent variables in this study. These factors may be independent variables that are manipulated or controlled in the experiment to observe their impact on the dependent variable, which is the weight of the fish.