Astronomy current events question: planet GJ1214b

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)

Amy Willis, "Astronomers Discover New Type of Planet—The Water World," February 22, 2012
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9097480/Astronomers-discover-new-type-of-planet-the-water-world.html

The super-Earth planet GJ1214b may have exotic materials not found in Earth such as hot ice, or superfluid water, due to:
(A) a mixture of water and high temperatures.
(B) widespread global cooling.
(C) internal cold fusion.
(D) strong tidal forces from its two moons.
(E) microlensing of infrared light.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 30 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 13 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 3 students