How do black holes affect nearby stars?

Black holes possess an incredibly strong gravitational pull due to their dense mass, which can significantly influence the motion of nearby stars. When a star comes close to a black hole, the gravitational attraction can cause the star to alter its trajectory, potentially leading to a spiraling motion towards the black hole. This interaction can result in a transfer of mass from the star to the black hole, and in some cases, if the black hole consumes a sufficient amount of material from a companion star, it can produce immense energy output, often observable as X-rays.

The other choices do not accurately capture the nature of black holes. For instance, while black holes do not emit light in a way that would push other stars away, their gravitational influence is paramount in the dynamics of their surroundings. Thus, the correct answer regarding how black holes affect nearby stars is that they can indeed attract and pull stars towards them.