Astronomy current events question: 'Homestake' vein on Mars

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!)

Guy Webster, "Paydirt at 8-Year-Old Mars Rover's 'New Landing Site,'" May 3, 2012
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20120503a.html

NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity observed an exposed layer of bright minerals at Endeavour Crater, which may have been caused by water:
(A) deposited by torrential rainfalls.
(B) evaporating from a small inland sea.
(C) released when the impact crater was formed.
(D) coming into contact with underground lava.
(E) permanently frozen by Mars' declining temperatures.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Section 30682
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 12 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 1 student