Okay, let's tackle this question about who invented the microscope. First, I need to recall the history of the microscope. I remember that there were several key figures involved. There's Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who's known as the "Father of Microbiology," and he made simple microscopes with high magnification. Then there's the Jansen family, Zacharias Jansen, who is often credited with creating the first compound microscope in the late 16th century. So the question is asking which of these is the correct answer.

The core concept here is the history of scientific instruments, specifically the microscope. The question tests knowledge of the inventors and their contributions. The correct answer should be someone who developed the first compound microscope.

Zacharias Jansen is typically cited as the inventor because he created a version with multiple lenses, which was the compound microscope. Leeuwenhoek later improved the design with a single lens but achieved much higher magnification. So if the options include Jansen, that's the correct answer. The other options might be other scientists or incorrect names. For example, if the options include Galileo or someone else, they're wrong because they didn't work on microscopes.

The clinical pearl here is to remember that Jansen's compound microscope came first, and Leeuwenhoek's contributions were later. Also, common exam traps might be to confuse Leeuwenhoek with the invention of the microscope itself. So the key is to distinguish between the compound and simple microscopes and their respective inventors.

**Core Concept**
The invention of the microscope marked a pivotal advancement in biology and medicine, enabling visualization of microorganisms and cellular structures. The question tests historical knowledge of key contributors to microscopy.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
**Zacharias Jansen** is credited with inventing the first **compound microscope** (using multiple lenses) in the late 16th century. His design allowed magnification by combining convex lenses in a tube, a breakthrough that later enabled Antonie van Leeuwenhoek to observe single-celled organisms with his improved simple microscopes. Jansen’s compound design laid the foundation for modern optical microscopy.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** *Antonie van Leeuwenhoek* invented high-magnification *simple* microscopes but did not pioneer the compound microscope.
**Option B:** *Robert Hooke* used a compound microscope to study cells (e.g., "cell" from cork) but did not invent it.
**Option C:** *Galen* was a Roman physician known for anatomical studies, unrelated to microscope invention.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Remember: **Jansen = compound microscope**; **Leeuwenhoek = single-lens, high magnification**. NEET/USMLE often asks about Leeuwenhoek’s observations (e.g., “animalcules”) but not his invention status. Avoid conflating inventors with users.

**Correct Answer: B. Zacharias Jansen**

✓ Correct Answer: C. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek