Question

Difficulty: MediumRhetorical Synthesis: Comparison and Contrast

While preparing a presentation on exoplanet discovery missions, a student took the following notes:

* The Kepler Space Telescope was launched in 2009 to search for exoplanets orbiting other stars.
* Kepler's observation strategy involved continuously monitoring a single, fixed field of view in the Cygnus and Lyra constellations.
* The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) was launched in 2018 to search for exoplanets.
* TESS's observation strategy involves surveying nearly the entire sky by dividing it into 26 different sectors, with each sector observed for 27 days.
* Kepler focused on distant stars to determine how common Earth-like planets are in the galaxy.
* TESS focuses on nearby, bright stars to identify targets for detailed atmospheric characterization.

The student wants to contrast the observation strategies of the Kepler Space Telescope and TESS. Which choice most effectively uses information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

  1. While the Kepler Space Telescope continuously monitored a single, fixed region of the sky, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) surveys nearly the entire sky by dividing it into multiple sectors.Answer
  2. B
    Both the Kepler Space Telescope and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) were launched by NASA to search for exoplanets orbiting other stars.
  3. C
    Kepler focused its search on distant stars to determine planetary frequency, whereas TESS targets nearby, bright stars to identify candidates for atmospheric study.
  4. D
    TESS surveys nearly the entire sky by dividing it into 26 sectors and observing each sector for 27 days to identify nearby exoplanets.

Answer

While the Kepler Space Telescope continuously monitored a single, fixed region of the sky, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) surveys nearly the entire sky by dividing it into multiple sectors.
The correct option effectively contrasts the observation strategies of the two telescopes by using the details from the notes: Kepler continuously monitored a single, fixed region, whereas TESS surveys nearly the entire sky by dividing it into multiple sectors.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the prompt to identify the specific goal.
The goal is to contrast the observation strategies of the Kepler Space Telescope and TESS.
Understanding the precise writing goal helps eliminate choices that focus on other aspects of the notes.
2
Evaluate the notes for details regarding the observation strategies.
The notes state that Kepler's strategy was continuously monitoring a single, fixed field of view, while TESS's strategy is surveying nearly the entire sky in 26 sectors.
This establishes the factual basis for the comparison required by the prompt.
3
Select the choice that correctly states and contrasts these two strategies.
The option stating that Kepler monitored a single fixed region while TESS surveys the sky in multiple sectors achieves the goal.
It is the only choice that directly and accurately contrasts the two strategies using information from the notes.

Key Concept

Rhetorical Synthesis: Comparison and Contrast
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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