Digital PSAT Reading and Writing Practice Question 289: Answer and Explanation

Question: 289

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Auroras, also called polar lights, are bright patterns of light that move across the dark sky.
• They are a result of solar wind interfering with the magnetosphere around Earth, causing emission of different colored wavelengths to be captured by the human eye.
• The ancient Greeks debated whether the colored lights were above or below the clouds.
• The oldest known written record of an aurora was in a Chinese legend in 2600 BCE.
• Japanese folklorists considered auroras to be messengers from heaven.

The student wants to draw a contrast between a mythological explanation for the auroras and a scientific explanation for them. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

• A. While Japanese folklorists thought auroras were messengers from heaven, they are now understood to be caused by solar wind interference with Earth's magnetosphere.
• B. Ancient Greeks thought that the colored lights of the auroras were possibly below the clouds, in contrast to the Japanese.
• C. Scientists now understand auroras to be bright patterns of light that are found moving across the night sky, even though many ancient peoples differed in their understanding.
• D. Astronomers have been aware of auroras for over 4,000 years, with the first recorded sighting in 2,600 BCE.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

A. Choice A is the only option that draws a contrast between mythology and science, stating the difference between what Japanese folklorists though and modern science believes. Choice B does not point out a mythological explanation. C is too vague in stating what ancient peoples believed. D does not provide explanations.