Final answer:
A transverse section of a ripe pawpaw is a slice made perpendicular to the fruit's long axis, revealing its internal structure and the arrangement of its seeds and pericarp.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transverse section of a ripe pawpaw can be best described as b) A slice perpendicular to the long axis of the fruit. This type of section would reveal the internal structure of the pawpaw, including its seeds and the relationship between the various layers of the fruit, such as the exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. Unlike a longitudinal section, which is cut along the long axis of the fruit, a transverse section is made by slicing the fruit horizontally, providing a view often used to observe the arrangement of the seeds and the pericarp's characteristics.