What is a common drawback of procedural programming compared to OOP?

The correct choice identifies a fundamental limitation of procedural programming in comparison to object-oriented programming (OOP). In procedural programming, data and functions are separate, leading to a lack of data encapsulation. This means that data structures are typically exposed for direct manipulation, making it easier for unintended interactions and modifications to occur, which can compromise data integrity.

In contrast, OOP promotes data encapsulation, where data and methods that operate on that data are bundled together into objects. This encapsulation helps to safeguard the internal state of an object from outside interference and misuse, enhancing data protection and maintaining robustness in software development. Therefore, the ability to restrict access to the internals of objects is a significant advantage of OOP that procedural programming cannot provide.

Other options, while relevant to programming paradigms, do not specifically highlight the core issue of data encapsulation, which is central to understanding the differences between procedural programming and OOP.