Craft and StructureEasyTwo reports on a comet's tail
Craft and Structure practice question
Text 1
Early astronomers noticed something odd: a comet's tail does not trail behind it like smoke from a train, but always points away from the sun, no matter which way the comet is moving.
Text 2
A stream of charged particles flows outward from the sun constantly. This solar wind, together with sunlight's pressure, pushes a comet's gas and dust away from the sun — which is why the tail points outward regardless of the comet's direction.
Which choice best describes the relationship between the texts?
- A. Text 2 explains the observation that Text 1 describes.Correct
- B. Text 2 argues that Text 1's observation was mistaken.
- C. Both texts claim comets have two identical tails.
- D. Text 1 explains why Text 2's method failed.
Answer: A. Text 2 explains the observation that Text 1 describes.
Text 1 reports what observers saw (the tail pointing away from the sun); Text 2 supplies the cause — the solar wind pushing material outward.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. Text 2 argues that Text 1's observation was mistaken.
- Text 2 accepts the observation and accounts for it.
- C. Both texts claim comets have two identical tails.
- Neither text says the tails are identical; Text 2 distinguishes dust from gas.
- D. Text 1 explains why Text 2's method failed.
- Text 2 describes no failed method.
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