Final answer:
OPTION A
When the Earth is neither tilted toward nor away from the Sun, the northern hemisphere experiences spring or fall during the equinoxes. These seasons are due to the Earth's tilt of 23.5°, and not the distance from the Sun.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the Earth is neither tilted toward nor away from the Sun, then the northern hemisphere will experience spring or fall. This occurs during the equinoxes in September and March, when the Earth's tilt is such that it leans "sideways" in relation to the Sun, leading to equal amounts of sunshine in both hemispheres. During these times, neither hemisphere is favored over the other, which results in roughly equal day and night lengths, a defining characteristic of the equinox.
The concept that the distance from the Sun causes the seasons is a common misconception. Changes in the Earth's distance from the Sun are minimal and do not create significant temperature differences to cause seasons. Instead, the 23.5° tilt of the Earth's axis is what leads to the varying intensities of sunlight and thus the differentiation of seasons between the hemispheres.