Final answer:
Mercury and Venus cannot be seen low in the eastern sky at sunset from Chicago because they are always near the Sun in the sky, being the inferior planets. They are visible either after sunset in the west or before sunrise in the east. Thus, the correct answer is D) A and B.
Step-by-step explanation:
As viewed from Chicago, Mercury and Venus can never be seen low in the eastern sky at sunset. Both of these planets, known as the inferior planets, orbit closer to the Sun than Earth does. Therefore, they are only ever visible in the twilight hours near where the Sun has risen or set. Mercury, due to its close proximity to the Sun, is always found in the twilight sky, never venturing far from the Sun’s position. Venus, while it can venture further from the Sun compared to Mercury, is similarly bound to appear either in the western sky after sunset or the eastern sky before sunrise, as an 'evening star' or 'morning star' respectively. As such, these planets cannot be observed low in the eastern sky at sunset from any location on Earth, including Chicago.
A crescent Moon, on the other hand, can sometimes be seen low in the eastern sky at sunset, depending on its phase and the timing of the lunar cycle. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is D) A and B - both Mercury and Venus.
Answer: D) A and B