Astronomy final exam question: halo stars likely for life?

Astronomy 210 Final Exam, fall semester 2009
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Halo stars of the Milky Way would not be likely places to find life because halo stars:
(A) are metal-poor.
(B) are not massive enough.
(C) are not old enough.
(D) have too much dark matter.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

Halo stars are the first generation of stars born in the Milky Way, and thus would be metal-poor, as well as their planets, which would then not have "metals" (any elements heavier than hydrogen, which would include carbon and oxygen).

Section 70160
(A) : 27 students
(B) : 4 students
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 6 students

Success level: 69% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.11