|Question 25Verbal

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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 fluorite has a Mohs scale number of 4.
• The mineral orthoclase has a Mohs scale number of 6.
• The mineral corundum has a Mohs scale number of 9.
The student wants to compare the hardness of fluorite and corundum. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The Mohs scale of mineral hardness can be used to order orthoclase, fluorite, and corundum by their ability to scratch other minerals.
A
A mineral with a Mohs number of 6, like orthoclase, is harder than one with a Mohs number of 4, like fluorite.
B
Corundum can leave visible scratches on fluorite, which means that corundum is harder than fluorite.
C
Corundum can leave visible scratches on orthoclase, which means corundum has a higher number than orthoclase on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
D