To answer this question, you need to understand the visibility modifiers in Java.
The protected keyword is a visibility modifier in Java that restricts the visibility of a member (variable or method) in a class.
Option A) Visible only inside the package - This option is incorrect. The protected keyword provides visibility not only within the package but also to subclasses in other packages.
Option B) Visible only in the class and its subclass in the same package - This option is incorrect. The protected keyword provides visibility not only within the same package but also to subclasses in other packages.
Option C) Visible in all classes in the same package and subclasses in other packages - This option is correct. The protected keyword allows the member to be visible in all classes in the same package and subclasses in other packages.
Option D) Visible only in the class where it is declared - This option is incorrect. The protected keyword provides visibility to subclasses in other packages as well.
The correct answer is Option C. This option is correct because the protected keyword allows the member to be visible in all classes in the same package and subclasses in other packages.