Which of the following meets the FAA's definition of a ceiling?

The FAA defines a ceiling as the height above the earth's surface of the lowest layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena that is reported as being broken or overcast. In this context, "broken clouds" refers to a cloud coverage that is between 5/8 and 7/8 of the sky covered with clouds, which qualifies as a ceiling under FAA regulations.

When considering the other options: "Visible Flight Rules" pertains to rules for flying under specific visibility conditions and does not define cloud cover. "Clear" indicates no significant cloud cover, so it does not contribute to a ceiling. "Overcast" represents a cloud coverage of 8/8, which is indeed a ceiling, but it does not provide the range that broken clouds do, as the term "broken clouds" is more specifically focused on the layers that determine the ceiling height. Thus, broken clouds is the most fitting choice that directly aligns with the FAA's definition of a ceiling.