Question

the poetry of physics
pre-test complete
1 2 3 4 5 6
read the opening lines from neil degrasse tysons \death by black hole.\
without a doubt, the most spectacular way to die in space is to fall into a black hole. where else in the
universe can you lose your life by being ripped apart atom by atom?
read the beginning stanza from billy collinss \man listening to disc.\
this is not bad—
ambling along 44th street
with sonny rollins for company,
his music flowing through the soft calipers
of these earphones,
the beginnings of these two pieces are similar because they both
○ reference a famous jazz musician.
○ contemplate life and death.
○ consider humanity’s place in the universe.
○ open with an upbeat tone.

Explanation:

• Analyze each option:
• Option 1: Only "Man Listening to Disc" references a jazz musician (Sonny Rollins), so this is incorrect.
• Option 2: "Death by Black Hole" contemplates death (falling into a black hole, being ripped apart), and "Man Listening to Disc" can be seen as contemplating life (ambling, enjoying music). So both contemplate life and death.
• Option 3: "Man Listening to Disc" is more about a personal experience with music, not humanity's place in the universe. "Death by Black Hole" is about a space event, but the opening doesn't focus on humanity's place. So this is incorrect.
• Option 4: "Death by Black Hole" has a more serious, not upbeat, tone about a deadly event. So this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. contemplate life and death