Consider the following countries: 1. Finland 2. Germany 3. Norway 4. Russia How many of the above countries have a border with the North Sea?

Option (b) is correct because only Germany and Norway among the listed countries share a coastline with the North Sea. Finland and Russia are the most common points of confusion, but they actually border the Baltic Sea and the Barents/Arctic seas respectively, with no direct access to the North Sea. The core concept being tested is the precise mapping of European maritime boundaries and the distinction between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea regions.