Final answer:
When a real physical object is placed several meters in front of a human eye, the image formed on the retina is upright (preserving the same orientation as the object) and smaller (magnification is less than 1). Hence, the first option is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a real physical object is placed several meters in front of a human eye, the eye's lens refracts light to form an upright image on the retina. The upright orientation indicates that the image preserves the same top-to-bottom alignment as the actual object. However, the image is smaller than the object due to the convergence of light rays.
The lens focuses incoming light, creating a diminished representation of the retina. This size reduction is a result of the focal length of the lens and the distance of the object from the lens. Consequently, the eye forms a smaller yet faithful representation of the external world on the retina, allowing for visual perception and interpretation.