The correct answer is: C. may increase or decrease depending on the characteristics of liquid.
The rise or depression of liquid in a tube due to surface tension is called capillary action. It is caused by the cohesive forces between the molecules of the liquid. The cohesive forces are the forces that hold the molecules of the liquid together. The adhesive forces are the forces that hold the molecules of the liquid to the surface of the tube.
The capillary action will increase if the cohesive forces are stronger than the adhesive forces. The capillary action will decrease if the adhesive forces are stronger than the cohesive forces.
The cohesive forces are affected by the type of liquid. For example, water has strong cohesive forces because it is a polar molecule. The adhesive forces are affected by the type of surface. For example, water will have strong adhesive forces to a glass surface because the glass surface is also a polar surface.
Therefore, the rise or depression of liquid in a tube due to surface tension will increase or decrease depending on the characteristics of the liquid and the surface of the tube.