AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
Mucus protects the inner lining of the stomach from the action of the hydrochloric acid secreted by the gastric glands under normal conditions.
Source: Life Processes, Section 5.2.4
The examiner expects a direct, one-line functional statement. The key phrase from the textbook is "protects the inner lining of the stomach from the action of the acid." Avoid vague answers like "it helps digestion" — mucus is not an enzyme and does not digest food.