Astronomy current events question: start of daylight savings time

Astronomy 10L, Spring Semester 2007
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

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

[0.2 points.] How should San Luis Obispo, CA clocks be set for daylight savings time at 2:00 AM on Sunday morning, March 11? Circle your answer below.
(A) Clocks should be set forward one hour, such that an hour is "lost."
(B) Clocks should be set back one hour, such that an hour is "gained."
(C) (California will not begin daylight savings time until 2:00 AM on Monday morning, March 12.)
(D) (California will not begin daylight savings time until the first Sunday in April.)
(E) (California will not observe daylight savings time for 2007.)

Correct answer: (A).

Student responses
Section 4137
(A) : 20 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 0 students

Section 4138
(A) : 13 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 0 students

Section 4139
(A) : 14 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 1 student

Most students memorized, "spring forward, fall back."

Pop quiz on Monday, March 12--will students show up to their first morning class on time? Let's see if cell phone service providers do this properly, as many students rely on their cell phones to tell time. Note to instructors: do not schedule midterms on the first Monday following a daylight savings time switch!