Astronomy current events question: asteroid collision

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!)

Astronomy.com editors, "Suspected asteroid collision leaves trailing debris," February 2, 2010
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=9113

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles suspect that the comet-like object P/2010 A2 in the asteroid belt is:
(A) rich with organic compounds.
(B) from the trailing, unstable edge of the asteroid belt.
(C) on a collision course with Earth in late 2012.
(D) an icy asteroid that has begun to absorb too much sunlight.
(E) the result of a head-on collision between two asteroids.

Correct answer: (E)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 51 students