Question

penicillin - resistant staphylococcus aureus bacteria produce enzymes called β - lactamases that bind to and break the β - lactam ring found in penicillin. this is an example of antibiotic resistance due to
mutation
destruction/ inactivation
binding
efflux

Explanation:

The text clearly states that $\beta$-lactamase breaks a bond in the $\beta$-lactam ring of penicillin to disable the molecule. This is a direct description of the destruction/inactivation mechanism of antibiotic resistance. Mutation would involve a change in the bacterial DNA. Binding alone (without breaking the ring) wouldn't disable the penicillin. Efflux is about pumping the antibiotic out of the cell, which is not described here.

Answer:

destruction/ inactivation