Astronomy quiz question: nearby versus common visible stars

Astronomy 210 Quiz 4, fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The majority of nearby stars are _________ the most common stars visible to the naked eye as seen from Earth.
(A) cooler and dimmer than.
(B) cooler and brighter than.
(C) hotter and dimmer than.
(D) hotter and brighter than.
(E) approximately the same temperature and brightness as.

Correct answer: (A)

The majority of nearby (and all stars in the Milky Way) are red dwarfs, while the most common stars visible to the naked eye are the distant but brighter and hotter massive main-sequence stars, giants and supergiants.

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz04Spr6
(A) : 18 students
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 6 students
(E) : 2 students

Success level: 54% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.56

Section 70160
Exam code: quiz04nNm5
(A) : 17 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 4 students
(E) : 2 students

Success level: 67% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.30