The response that best explains the role of a city under central place theory is:
A city provides for a specific ranking of different central places depending on their size.
Central Place Theory, developed by Walter Christaller, posits that cities and towns serve as "central places" that provide goods and services to their surrounding areas. The theory emphasizes the idea of a hierarchical system where larger cities offer a greater range of goods and services, thereby serving as central places for larger market areas compared to smaller towns or cities.