Astronomy current events question: smarter Opportunity rover

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, "Mars Rover Getting Smarter As It Gets Older," March 24, 2010
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=9693

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity is now able to choose and investigate targets on its own, without constant human monitoring, due to:
(A) rebooting its memory.
(B) unexplained reasons.
(C) a software upgrade.
(D) transferring data to the unused Spirit rover.
(E) an evolution in artificial intelligence.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 46 students
(D) : 9 students
(E) : 5 students