Final answer:
The planet orbiting 51 Pegasi is a hot Jupiter because it is very close to its host star and has a high temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement representing the evidence that the planet orbiting 51 Pegasi is a hot Jupiter is option c) The planet is very close to its host star and has a high temperature.
This can be inferred from the information provided that the planet is located about 7 million kilometers away from 51 Pegasi and the energy from the star heats the planet's surface to a few thousand degrees Celsius.
This is consistent with the characteristics of a hot Jupiter, which is a type of gas giant planet that orbits very close to its star and therefore has a high temperature.