Final answer:
To calculate the new water level in a graduated cylinder after submerging objects, you add the objects' mass to the initial water volume, as long as the objects' density is greater than water, causing them to fully submerge. However, the answer to this question does not match any of the options provided, suggesting an error.
Step-by-step explanation:
The new level of water in the cylinder after adding a 17 g piece of iron and a 21 g piece of lead can be determined by knowing the volume displaced by these objects, which is equivalent to their combined mass assuming the density of water is 1 g/mL. Initially, the cylinder contains 148 mL of water. When the iron and lead are added, and since they are denser than water, they will displace their own volume in water. Thus, the new water level will be the initial volume plus the volume of the iron and lead pieces.
To find this new water level, you add the mass of the iron and lead (17 g + 21 g = 38 g) directly to the initial water volume, since 1 g of water occupies a volume of 1 mL. Therefore, the new level of water is:
148 mL + 38 mL = 186 mL.
However, this option isn't provided in the answer choices, which indicates there might be a mistake in the question or the answer choices. Hence, I cannot confidently provide the correct answer from the options given.