The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The Earth is divided into distinct heat zones based on the angle of incidence of the sun's rays and the latitudinal distribution of heat. These zones are the Torrid Zone, the Temperate Zones, and the Frigid Zones.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: The Frigid Zones are the regions located between the Arctic Circle ($66\frac{1}{2}^\circ$ N) and the North Pole ($90^\circ$ N) in the Northern Hemisphere, and between the Antarctic Circle ($66\frac{1}{2}^\circ$ S) and the South Pole ($90^\circ$ S) in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The mid-day sun never shines directly overhead at any latitude beyond the Tropics (Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn). In the Frigid Zones, the sun remains very low on the horizon even during summer.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Because the sun does not rise high in the sky, its rays are always slanting (oblique). Slanting rays cover a larger surface area and travel a longer distance through the atmosphere, resulting in minimal heat absorption. Consequently, these zones experience extremely cold temperatures, not intense heat.
Key Takeaway:
The Frigid Zones are characterized by permanent ice and extreme cold because the sun's rays are always oblique and never vertical, limiting the amount of solar insolation received.