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Verbal·Expression of Ideas·Rhetorical Synthesis

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

• The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is a ten-point scale that orders minerals by hardness based on their ability to scratch other minerals.
• Minerals with larger numbers are harder than minerals with smaller numbers and can leave visible scratches on them.
• Minerals with smaller numbers are softer than minerals with larger numbers and cannot leave visible scratches on them.
• The mineral calcite has a Mohs scale number of 3.
• The mineral apatite has a Mohs scale number of 5.
• The mineral corundum has a Mohs scale number of 9.

The student wants to make a generalization about minerals. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A

Based on their Mohs scale numbers, corundum (9) is harder than apatite (5), and apatite is harder than calcite (3).

B

Corundum can leave visible scratches on calcite, which is why corundum has a higher number than calcite on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.

C

Any mineral with a Mohs number of 9, like corundum, can scratch a mineral with a Mohs number of 5, like apatite.

D

The Mohs scale can be used to order calcite, corundum, and apatite by their ability to scratch other minerals.