Final answer:
The best explanation for a scientific theory is that it is accepted by a large scientific community, due to its extensive support from empirical evidence and rigorous testing. Scientific theories are detailed explanations that are regularly tested and refined, not mere guesses. They allow for predictions and understanding of the natural world.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the choices provided to describe a scientific theory, the one that best explains it is that a theory is accepted by a large scientific community. This is because a scientific theory is an in-depth explanation supported by a substantial amount of scientific evidence, acquired over numerous studies and experiments. A theory is developed when a hypothesis, which is an initial conjecture intended to provide a possible explanation for a natural event, has been rigorously tested and verified. As new evidence is gathered, the theory is refined and can evolve, but the core principles often remain unchanged because they are so well supported by empirical data.