What could one do with these different instruments to survive on a deserted island: a frying pan, duct tape, a tire, newspaper, one match, a boat paddle, a hammer, a wire, and towel?

Food, shelter, hunt for food, build a boat to get back, make a rope swing with the tire, build a fire...lots of stuff

A frying pan) somewhat sanitarily cook fish
duct tape) bind together wood or leaves to make some type of shelter 
a tire) a decent place to sit ontop of the hot sand or even maybe create a flotation device 
one match) sparingly start a fire
a boat paddle) paddle home once a stable flotable boat is created
a hammer) hammer together wood 
a wire) possibly spark a fire?
a towel) cover with at night when too cold! cover head and shoulders when out in the sun.

Ibelieve the correct answer is c.