The term 'Goldilocks Zone' is often seen in the news in the context of

Option (c) is correct because the 'Goldilocks Zone' refers to the habitable range around a star where temperatures are "just right" for liquid water to exist, a key indicator in the search for Earth-like exoplanets. Option (a) is the most tempting distractor but is incorrect because it limits the zone to Earth's atmosphere, whereas the term actually applies to the distance of a planet from its host star. The core concept being tested is the astronomical criteria for planetary habitability and the search for life in outer space.