Astronomy quiz question: highest point in sky for east-rising stars

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, Spring Semester 2009
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

[4.0 points.] Virgo is just above the east horizon, as seen by an observer at 11 PM in San Luis Obispo, CA. (Ignore the fact that your starwheel does not include daylight savings time.) Where will this constellation be at its highest point in the sky?
(A) Somewhere between the north horizon and the north celestial pole.
(B) Somewhere between the north celestial pole and the zenith.
(C) Somewhere very close to the zenith.
(D) Somewhere between the south horizon and the zenith.

Section 30674
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 6 students
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 26 students

Correct answer: (D)

Using a starwheel for the lower 48 states (San Luis Obispo, CA), stars that rise directly in the east will set directly in the west, but will not pass directly overhead, at the zenith. Instead, these stars will cross the meridian between the south horizon and the zenith for their highest point in the sky.

"Difficulty level": 71% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.64