Question

(1) People semetimes confuse comets with meteors because both appear to have tails and to streak across the sky (2) Apart from such surface similanties, however, the two celestial phenomena differ in important ways. (3) ________ meteors are random chunks of matter that glow brightly when they enter the earth's atmosphere and are wibible for only seconds, comets are very slow moving conglomerates of ice, dust, ions, and gases that can be observed for weeks and have fixed orbits, (4) ________ astronamers have identified nearly 1,000 comets, only a few can be seen. (5) That is why the appearance of a comet is such an event.

(6) Another reason for popular fascination with comets is their intriguing character as cosmic fossils. (7) just as paleontologists study the fossiis found in rocks ar layers of Earth to learn about the geology and biology of the past. (8) Astrophysicists and astronomers study the molecular structure and chemical constitution of comets to learn about the birth. development, and composition of our solar system. (9) Some scientists believe comets may be among the oldest objects in the solar system. (10) ________

QUESTION:
Which statement. If added as Sentence 10 , would be most cansistent with the writers purpose and intended audience?
A. Their extreme age is one of the reasons I have always found comets so interesting.
B. Arything that old is sure worthy of the study it seems to get from the scientific community.
c. If old age means anything then there is certainfy lots to be leamed from comets.
D. Like their rarity, the antiquity of comets adds to the air of mystery surrounding them.

Answer 1

Comets and meteors have surface similarities but differ in important ways. Comets are slow-moving conglomerates of ice, dust, ions, and gases that can be observed for weeks, while meteors are random chunks of matter that glow brightly when they enter the Earth's atmosphere and only last for seconds. The antiquity of comets adds to their air of mystery.

Step-by-step explanation:

Comets and meteors may appear similar because they both have tails and streak across the sky. However, they differ in important ways. Meteors are random chunks of matter that glow brightly when they enter the Earth's atmosphere and only last for seconds. In contrast, comets are slow-moving conglomerates of ice, dust, ions, and gases that can be observed for weeks and have fixed orbits.

While astronomers have identified nearly 1,000 comets, only a few can be seen, which is why the appearance of a comet is such an event. Comets are not only intriguing due to their rarity but also because they are considered cosmic fossils. Like paleontologists who study fossils to learn about the past, astrophysicists and astronomers study the molecular structure and chemical constitution of comets to learn about the birth, development, and composition of our solar system. Some scientists believe comets may be among the oldest objects in the solar system.

Therefore, the statement that would be most consistent with the writer's purpose and intended audience if added as Sentence 10 is: D. Like their rarity, the antiquity of comets adds to the air of mystery surrounding them.