Astronomy current events question: zodiacal light

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, "Zodiacal Light's Mystery Solved," March 11, 2010
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/87336457.html

Researchers from the Southwest Research Institute have successfully modeled the origin of the zodiacal light as dust from short-period comets. What is the zodiacal light?
(A) A faint cone of light during twilight stretching across the ecliptic.
(B) The original lines connecting the stars in the zodiac constellations.
(C) Material left over after the large impact that created Earth's moon.
(D) Light reflected from the Milky Way, no longer visible due to light pollution.
(E) Dust trailing the moon from comet bombardments.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 45 students
(B) : 4 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 4 students
(E) : 5 students