You are given a science question (easy-level) and four answer options (associated with "A", "B", "C", "D"). Your task is to find the correct answer based on scientific facts, knowledge, and reasoning. Do not generate anything else apart from one of the following characters: 'A', 'B, 'C', 'D'. There is only one correct answer for each question.

One substance found on Earth is more stable as an elemental gas than as part of a solid compound. As a result, this substance is very abundant in the atmosphere. Which substance exhibits these traits?  
 (A) argon (B) chlorine (C) nitrogen (D) oxygen
C

The number of fish in a lake suddenly increases. How will the increase most likely affect the lake?  
 (A) There will be less water in the lake. (B) More plants will grow in the lake. (C) More frogs will live in the lake. (D) There will be fewer insects in the lake.
D

An engineer tests three new ceramic parts, each of which could potentially replace a steel part inside an automotive engine. The three parts, identical in size, are each made of a different ceramic compound. The parts are heated to the same temperature and placed under the same stress loads. At the end of the test, the engineer concludes Part B is the best for the job. What was the independent variable in this test?  
 (A) dimensions of the parts (B) temperatures to which the parts were heated (C) the engine used to test the parts (D) the composition of the parts

D