Final answer:
The food and beverage options that can be provided at an educational event under a $15 limit include coffee and pastries, or cheese, crackers, fresh fruit, and wine individually, while a buffet dinner or all options combined may exceed the limit.
Step-by-step explanation:
Depending on the policy or regulations governing the event, the food and beverage options that may be provided at an educational event if the nominal retail value of the items when combined with other giveaways does not exceed $15 per person can vary. Options such as coffee and pastries or cheese, crackers, fresh fruit, and wine may be acceptable if their combined cost is under the $15 limit. A buffet dinner, due to its higher cost, is less likely to meet this criterion. Therefore, without specific pricing information, it is safest to assume that options a (Coffee and pastries) or b (cheese, crackers, fresh fruit, and wine) independently would be likely choices to stay within budget constraints, while option d (Coffee and pastries and cheese, crackers, fresh fruit, and wine) combined or option c (Buffet dinner) may exceed the allowed value.