Question

malika is writing an essay about the sun. below is the first paragraph in the essay.
the sun is an average-size star that is located at the center of the solar system. this hot, glowing ball of gas has a diameter of 1,393,000 km. this means 109 earths would fit side by side across the diameter of the sun. at the surface, the sun’s temperature is about 550 degrees celsius. earth is located just under 150 million kilometers from the sun.
malika quickly realizes this paragraph contains an error. which statement corrects the error?
○ the sun is a large star, not an average-size star.
○ the sun is not a glowing ball of gas—it is solid.
○ the sun’s surface temperature is about 5,500 degrees celsius.
○ earth is located over 300 million kilometers from the sun.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option 1: The Sun is actually an average - size star (G - type main - sequence star), so this option is incorrect.
2. Analyze Option 2: The Sun is a glowing ball of gas (mostly hydrogen and helium), not solid, so this option is incorrect.
3. Analyze Option 3: The Sun's surface (photosphere) temperature is about 5,500 degrees Celsius, the original 550 degrees is wrong, so this option corrects the error.
4. Analyze Option 4: The average distance from Earth to the Sun (astronomical unit) is about 150 million kilometers, not over 300 million, so this option is incorrect.

Answer:

The Sun’s surface temperature is about 5,500 degrees Celsius.