Question #N1432
The ancient Greeks viewed the Pleiades, a cluster of stars, as a group of seven stars. They believed that these stars were the Seven Sisters, a group of women who had been transformed into stars. This idea is still popular in some cultures, though astronomers know that there are, in fact, only six visible stars in the cluster. The two stars that appear closest to each other are so close together that they appear to be a single star.
Which choice best combines the sentences in the underlined portion of the passage?Correct Answer is: B
Choice B is the best answer because it accurately combines the two sentences using a transition word that signals a contrast. The transition word "though" creates a logical connection between the two ideas, showing that despite the fact that astronomers know there are only six stars, the stars that appear closest to each other appear to be one star. Choice A uses the transition word "and" to connect the two sentences, which is not the best choice because it does not create a sense of contrast. Choice C uses the transition word "and" to connect the two sentences, which is not the best choice because it does not create a sense of contrast. Choice D uses a semicolon to connect the two sentences, which is not the best choice because a semicolon is generally used to connect related independent clauses, but the two sentences in this case are not independent clauses. Choice B creates the most logical and grammatically correct connection between the two sentences.