Final answer:
Ziti is the type of pasta that fits the description of having a small diameter, short lengths, and smooth tubes, which differentiates it from spaghetti, linguine, and orzo.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of pasta characterized by "small diameter, short lengths, and smooth tubes" is b) Ziti. Unlike spaghetti, which has a long and thin shape, and linguistic, which is flat and wide, ziti consists of small, often ridged tubes that are best suited for holding onto sauces. Orzo, on the other hand, is shaped like grains of rice or barley and doesn't match the description of smooth tubular pasta with a small diameter.