Planet
Characteristics
Mercury
surface temperature range: -184°C to 465°C
thick, dense iron core and an extremely thin, low-density atmosphere made mostly of oxygen, sodium, hydrogen, and helium
surface is covered with many craters
Venus
average surface temperature: 449°C
iron-rich core and a dense atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide and nitrogen
thick clouds trap heat and rain sulfuric acid
Earth
average surface temperature: 14°C
solid, nickel-iron inner core, liquid iron-nickel outer core, and a fairly thin atmosphere made mostly of nitrogen and oxygen
surface is shaped by a well-developed plate tectonics system, and three-fourths of the surface is covered with liquid water
Mars
surface temperature range: -123°C to 36°C
solid core made mostly of nickel, iron, and sulfur and a thin atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon
surface has plains, volcanoes, valleys, and canyons
Jupiter
average surface temperature: -153°C
small rocky core surrounded by a thick layer of hydrogen and helium;
no solid surface
surface has a large red spot which is a storm that has raged for centuries
Saturn
average surface temperature: -184°C
small, rocky core surrounded by a thick layer of hydrogen and helium;
no solid surface
circled by several icy rings
Uranus
surface temperature range: -224°C to -184°C
small, rocky core surrounded by a thick layer of hydrogen and helium, with lesser amounts of methane
spins on its side
Neptune
average surface temperature: -223°C
small, rocky core surrounded by hydrogen, helium, and methane
very windy; wind speeds can exceed 1,100 km/hr

Which of the following statements can be inferred from the information found above?

A.
Liquid water is found on most planetary surfaces.
B.
All of the planets have solid surfaces.
C.
The average surface temperature on Mercury is greater than the average surface temperature on Venus.
D.
The Earth's composition and conditions are different from the other planets' compositions and conditions.