Final answer:
The Department of the Interior is responsible for protecting and maintaining public lands and parks, making option C) interior the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cabinet that protects and maintains public lands and parks is known as the Department of the Interior. Thus, the correct answer to the student's question is C) interior. This department is responsible for managing and conserving most federally owned land, such as national parks, national wildlife refuges, and other federal public lands. They also oversee programs related to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian issues, among other responsibilities.