What do scientists who do pure science do?

Which of the following correctly describes the early view of catastrophism?

What are chlorofluorocarbons and what impact do they have on the atmosphere?

Light from the sun reaches the earth in 8.3 minutes. the velocity is 3.00 x 10^8 m/s. how far is earth from the sun? i know how to get to d = (3 x 10^8 m/s)(498 sec). i just don't know how to get from there to the answer being 1.5 x 10^11 m.