1

Problem

Astronomers believe that the star Betelgeuse will eventually use up all the helium in its core and explode in a supernova. Astronomers have very low self-confidence, however, about when this will happen since that depends on internal characteristics of Betelgeuse that are largely unknown.

Astrophysicist James Webb and colleagues recently investigated whether acoustic waves in the star could be used to determine internal stellar states but concluded that this method could not sufficiently reveal Betelgeuse’s interior characteristics to firmly establish its evolutionary status.

Which choice best describes the function of the second sentence in the overall structure of the text?

2

Clue

A short passage helps to draw a conclusion from the given passage.

3

Hint

The details and facts help to draw the main idea of the passage.

4

Sumup

Please summarize Problem, Hint, Clue

Choices

5

Choice-A

Choice A is incorrect because the second sentence does not present a discovery. Instead, it highlights the uncertainty and unknown factors about Betelgeuse’s internal characteristics. Its focus is on the problem that motivates the research, not on a finding or result.

Wrong It presents the central discovery reported by Webb and colleagues.

6

Choice-B

Choice B is incorrect because the second sentence introduces the general problem Webb and colleagues hoped to solve, not a harsh restriction of how they tried to solve it.

Wrong It describes a harsh restriction of the method used by Webb and colleagues.

7

Choice-C

Choice C is incorrect because the second sentence doesn’t indicate how other astronomers or astrophysicists responded to the work done by Webb and colleagues; the text doesn’t address this information at all.

Wrong It explains to Webb and colleagues how the work is received by others in the field.

8

Choice-D

Choice D is the best answer because it best describes how the second sentence functions in the text as a whole. The first sentence establishes something astronomers believe with some certainty and the second sentence then introduces a problem. Thus, the function of the second sentence is to identify the problem that Webb and colleagues attempted to solve but didn’t.

Correct It identifies the problem that Webb and colleagues attempted to solve but did not.

9

Step

Correct sentence is "The function of the second sentence in the overall structure of the text identifies the problem that Webb and colleagues attempted to solve but did not.

10

Answer

Option

D

11

Sumup

Please summarize choices