Final answer:
Zack's increased alertness in the evening is due to his circadian rhythm, which regulates his sleep-wake cycle in response to environmental light and darkness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the student's question is: a. circadian rhythm.
Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism's environment. Zack displaying more alertness in the evening signifies that his peak activity and wakefulness are more aligned with that time of day, which is a manifestation of his circadian rhythm. This rhythm affects most living things, including animals, plants, and microbes, and is found in most eukaryotic organisms. In humans, circadian rhythms regulate the sleep-wake cycle, influencing sleeping patterns and physiological processes. While Zack might be described as exhibiting eveningness, this term simply refers to his tendency or pZack being more alert in the evening than in the morning is referred to as eveningness or having an evening chronotype. This term describes an individual's preference and alertness during specific times of the day. It is part of the concept of circadian rhythms, which are daily cycles of behavior that humans and animals experience.
reference and is not the scientific term for the biological process.