Explanation: The terms Dolby B and Dolby C refer to noise reduction circuits used in tape recorders and sound systems. These technologies reduce background hiss and unwanted noise during playback and recording, thereby improving the overall sound quality.

The ozone hole leads to an increase in ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the Earth's surface. The depletion of the ozone layer, caused by chemicals like CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), reduces its ability to block harmful UV rays. This can result in health issues such as skin cancer, cataracts, and also harm to crops and marine ecosystems.

• Acid rain: Caused by sulphur and nitrogen oxides, not ozone depletion.
• Global warming: Caused by greenhouse gases trapping heat.
• Greenhouse effect: Natural process intensified by CO₂, not related to ozone loss.

Explanation: A lens is generally made of flint glass, which contains lead oxide. Flint glass has a higher refractive index than ordinary glass, allowing it to bend light more effectively. This property makes it ideal for manufacturing optical instruments such as lenses and prisms.

Explanation: PROLOG (Programming in Logic) is a high-level programming language widely used in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and computational linguistics. It is based on formal logic and is especially useful for solving problems involving pattern matching, rule-based reasoning, and natural language processing.

Explanation: The HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) primarily attacks the lymphocytes, especially the CD4⁺ T-helper cells of the immune system. This weakens the body’s defense mechanism, making it vulnerable to various infections and diseases, eventually leading to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

Explanation: Mucor is not a biofertilizer; it is a saprophytic fungus that grows on decaying organic matter. Biofertilizers are living microorganisms that enhance soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen or solubilizing nutrients. Examples include Rhizobium, Azotobacter, and Anabaena.

Explanation: Human blood is maintained at a slightly alkaline pH of 7.4 (range 7.35–7.45). This balance is vital for the proper functioning of enzymes and biochemical reactions in the body. The buffer systems in blood — primarily the bicarbonate buffer system (H₂CO₃ / HCO₃⁻) — help maintain this stable pH. A small deviation from this range can lead to severe physiological disturbances.

Imbalances:

• Acidosis: pH below 7.35 — causes drowsiness, confusion, and respiratory distress.
• Alkalosis: pH above 7.45 — causes muscle twitching, irritability, and convulsions.

Coal is a fossil fuel formed from the remains of plants that lived and died millions of years ago. Over long geological periods, heat and pressure converted these plant remains buried under soil and rock into coal. It is a major source of energy used for electricity generation, steel production, and various industrial processes. However, burning coal releases carbon dioxide, contributing to air pollution and global warming.

Other options (for context)

• Solar energy: A renewable energy source derived from sunlight, not a fossil fuel.
• Quartz: A mineral composed of silicon and oxygen, not an energy source.
• Lava: Molten rock from volcanic eruptions, not a fossil fuel.

Explanation: Wind energy is a clean and renewable source of energy that does not cause environmental pollution. It is generated by converting the kinetic energy of moving air into mechanical or electrical energy using wind turbines. Unlike fossil fuels such as coal or mineral oil, wind energy does not release carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, or other greenhouse gases. It is, therefore, a pollution-free and sustainable source of power, widely used for electricity generation in wind farms.