Astronomy current events question: listening for Phoenix lander

Astronomy 210L, Spring Semester 2010
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!)

Alicia Chang (Associated Press), "NASA Listens for Silent Mars Lander," January 17, 2010
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/wires?id=140109382&c=y

NASA will begin listening for signals from the Phoenix lander on Mars, which has been silent since November 2008 because:
(A) of budget cuts.
(B) it was buried by layers of dry ice.
(C) of a software failure.
(D) its radio dish is stuck pointing in one direction only.
(E) it was quietly listening for signs of intelligent life.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 30 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 0 students