While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
● Ancient Native American and Australian Aboriginal cultures described the Pleiades star cluster as having seven stars.
● It was referred to as the Seven Sisters in the mythology of ancient Greece.
● Today, the cluster appears to have only six stars.
● Two of the stars have moved so close together that they now appear as one.
The student wants to specify the reason the Pleiadesʼ appearance changed. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Explanation
Answer: 3) In the time since ancient cultures described the Pleiades as having seven stars, two of the cluster's stars have moved so close together that they now appear as one.
Goal: Specify the reason the Pleiades' appearance changed.
Why? To specify a reason, you must state the cause. Choice 3 explains two stars moved close together, causing the appearance change.
Traps:
- A) About ancient descriptions → historical fact, not reason for change
- B) States change occurred → doesn't explain why
- D) Current state only → doesn't explain change