Final answer:
The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) establishes a connection, sequences packet transfer, and acknowledges sent packets, ensuring reliable and orderly data transmission over the internet.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1970s, DARPA developed a set of rules and procedures for data transmission between computers, leading to the creation of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). The correct answer to the student's question is that the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): c. establishes a connection between the computers, sequences the transfer of packets, and acknowledges that the packets were sent. This protocol is essential for ensuring reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of a stream of data between applications running on hosts across an IP network, which is crucial for internet communication.