Question

while researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: planetary scientists classify asteroids based on their composition. c - type asteroids are composed primarily of carbon. they account for roughly 75 percent of known asteroids. s - type asteroids are primarily made up of silicate minerals. they account for roughly 17 percent of known asteroids. the student wants to emphasize a difference between c - type and s - type asteroids. which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal? a) planetary scientists classify asteroids into types, two of which are the c - type and the s - type. b) planetary scientists consider an asteroid’s composition (such as whether the asteroid is composed mainly of silicate minerals or carbon) when classifying it. c) roughly 17 percent of known asteroids are classified as s - type asteroids; another percentage is classified as c - type asteroids. d) c - type asteroids are mainly composed of carbon, whereas s - type asteroids are primarily made up of silicate minerals.

Explanation:

The goal is to emphasize the difference between C - type and S - type asteroids. Option D directly states the compositional difference, with C - type being mainly carbon and S - type being mainly silicate minerals. Option A just names the types. Option B focuses on the classification method in general. Option C gives the percentages but not the key compositional difference.

Answer:

D. C - type asteroids are mainly composed of carbon, whereas S - type asteroids are primarily made up of silicate minerals.