Question the-mi
The Milky Way galaxy is composed of millions of stars in a relatively flat structure containing a thin disk and a thick disk. Based on computer simulations and analysis of data on the brightness, position, and chemical composition of about 250,000 stars in the thick disk (collected from two telescopes, one in China and one orbiting in space), astrophysicists Maosheng Xiang and Hans-Walter Rix claim that the thick disk of the Milky Way formed in two distinct phases rather than a single one.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers’ claim?
The telescopes used by the researchers have detected stars of similar ages in galaxies other than the Milky Way.
There’s an age difference of about 2 billion years between certain stars in the thick disk.
The thin disk contains about twice as many stars that can be seen from Earth as the thick disk does.
The stars in the Milky Way tend to have very similar chemical compositions.
The Milky Way galaxy is composed of millions of stars in a relatively flat structure containing
Medium-difficulty · SAT Reading & Writing · Command of Evidence — Choosing the strongest supporting line or detail. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.
Answer explanation
Choice B is the best answer. A consistent age difference of 2 billion years between certain stars within the thick disk would support the claim that the thick disk formed in two phases instead of one, with the second phase beginning 2 billion years after the first phase.
Choice A is incorrect. This choice doesn’t support the claim. The researchers base their claim on their study of stars inside the thick disk of the Milky Way. This choice makes a comparison to stars in other galaxies, which isn’t relevant. Choice C is incorrect. This choice doesn’t support the claim. The researchers base their claim on their study of stars inside the thick disk. This choice makes a comparison to the thin disk, which isn’t relevant. Choice D is incorrect. This choice doesn’t support the claim. It’s too general. The claim is specifically about the thick disk.
More Command of Evidence practice questions
- 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Median marriage age 1900 1910 1920
- “Valia” is a 1907 short story by Leonid Andreyev. In the story, the author
- 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Seeds germinated (%)
- “The Rock and the Sea” is an 1893 poem by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. In
- Correlations Between Congestion Ratings and Features of the Crowd in Raters’
- Housing Starts in the US, January April 2022 (in thousands) Month Housing starts
- Psychologists Dacher Keltner and Jonathan Haidt have argued that experiencing awe-a
- Simulated Change in Annual Aquifer Input and Irrigation Output if Precipitation
Browse all Information and Ideas practice questions or return to the full SAT question bank.