Astronomy quiz question: old low-mass stars

Astronomy 210 Quiz 5, Spring Semester 2011
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Low-mass stars in an old star cluster will be in their __________ stage.
(A) protostar.
(B) red dwarf.
(C) white dwarf.
(D) giant.

Correct answer: (B)

Low-mass stars, which evolve the slowest, reach the lower part of the main sequence line, well after the massive and medium-mass stars, and then these low-mass stars remain there as red dwarfs.

Section 30676
Exam code: quiz05s0F7
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 23 students
(C) : 8 students
(D) : 5 students

"Success level": 63% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.65