The narrow band of coastline between the levels of high tide and low tide is:

• A. Photic zone
• B. Littoral zone
• C. Intertidal zone
• D. Aphotic zone

Answer: (C)

The boundary being tested is the area along the coast that is alternately covered and uncovered by tides. The intertidal zone is that narrow strip between high tide and low tide, right where the ocean meets land. It endures regular submersion and exposure, plus wave impact, and swings in salinity and temperature, so organisms there must tolerate drying and changing conditions. The other terms describe different conceptions: the photic zone is the sunlit part of the water column, the aphotic zone is the deep, dark part of the ocean, and the littoral zone is a broader nearshore area not specifically defined by tidal exposure. Hence, the intertidal zone is the correct description.