Pneumothorax is a condition in which a puncture has allowed aur to enter the chest cavity. the air puts pressure on the lungs preventing them from expanding. why would this cause short and shallow inspiration?
a) lung volume cannot decrease as much and so air pressure cannot increase
b) lung volume cannot increase as much and so air pressure cannot decrease
c) lung volume cannot increase as much and so air pressure cannot increase
d) lung volume cannot decrease as much and so air pressure cannot decrease

I think its b because it can hurt your tissues and it will cause you not to breathe

B) lung volume cannot increase as much and so air pressure cannot decrease

Explanation:

If air will enter the chest cavity then lung will not find proper space to expand. As we all know that pressure and volume both have inverse relation that means an increase in volume leads to decrease in pressure. In short, if volume increases, pressure decreases.

In normal condition, if air enters lungs, the lungs withstand the increased air pressure by expanding themselves. Expansion of lungs volume reduce the pressure which air exerts on them.

But, in pneumothorax condition since the chest cavity where lungs are situated is filled with air so when air will enter the lungs, the lungs will not find required space to expand and air pressure will not decrease leading to short and shallow inspiration.

c. earths continental crust is thicker than its lithosphere.

because, the lithosphere is the outermost layer of the earth/ 100 km thick and is defined by its machanical properties.the lithosphere contains oceanic and continental crust that varies in age and thickness across locations and geologic time. the lithosphere is the coolest layer of the earth in terms of temperature. the term lithosphere should not be confused with the use of "geosphere" which is used to indicate all of earth systems, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere   and biosphere. the surface of the earth can be divided into the continental crust and the oceanic crust.   the continental crust is made mostly of granite while the oceanic crust is made of basalt. the average thickness of the continental crust is 25 miles and the average thickness of the oceanic crust is 5 miles.   three types of rock, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic, make up the surface of the earth. that's why 3 option is preferable.