Meteorites are pieces of rock that burn as they fall through the Earth's atmosphere. To understand why this is the correct answer, let's break down the options and explain each one in detail.

a) Meteoroids:
- Meteoroids are small rocky or metallic objects that orbit the Sun.
- They are similar to asteroids but smaller in size.
- When a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere, it becomes a meteor.

b) Asteroids:
- Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the Sun.
- They can vary in size, ranging from small boulders to objects several hundred kilometers in diameter.
- While asteroids can collide with the Earth, they do not burn as they fall through the atmosphere.
- Asteroids that survive the journey through the atmosphere and land on the Earth's surface are called meteorites.

c) Meteorite:
- A meteorite is a meteoroid that survives the passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on the Earth's surface.
- It is a solid piece of debris from space that has fallen to Earth.
- Meteorites can be composed of various materials, including rock, metal, or a combination of both.
- They are often valuable for scientific research as they provide insights into the composition and history of our solar system.

d) Meteor:
- A meteor is the visible streak of light that occurs when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up.
- It is often referred to as a "shooting star" or a "falling star."
- Meteors are typically caused by small meteoroids burning up due to friction with the Earth's atmosphere.
- Most meteors disintegrate completely before reaching the Earth's surface.

In conclusion, the correct answer is c) Meteorite because it represents the piece of rock that survives the journey through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on the Earth's surface.