Astronomy current events question: Spirit rover now 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!)

Kelly Beatty, "Spirit Morphs into a Martian Lander," January 26, 2010
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/82759442.html

Because the NASA Mars Spirit rover is stuck, it will:
(A) become buried by shifting sands caused by winter windstorms.
(B) sink further into quicksand-like material.
(C) keep transmitting its location, so Mars' rotation can be tracked.
(D) drill further into a nearby rock to investigate its core.
(E) wait until the Mars Opportunity rover arrives to give it a nudge.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 7 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 21 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 2 students