b) The static keyword let a variable to maintain its value among distinct function calls.

If the value of a static variable alters while the variable has been accessed, variable keeps the new value. If the identical variable gets accessed again, it would be storing its most recent value. It is possible because, while the static variable is declared, the compiler employee a separate memory area to hold it. By doing this, while the value of the static variable gets altered, it is updated in the memory it is occupying. And since this memory is separate, the compiler can check its values even whilst its function exits.