Astronomy current events question: upsilon Andromeda b hot spot

Astronomy 210L, Fall 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!)

Whitney Clavin, "Astronomers Find Weird, Warm Spot on an Exoplanet," October 19, 2010
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/spitzer/news/spitzer20101019.html

The side of the planet upsilon Andromeda b that always faces its star is unusual because it is:
(A) experiencing a perpetual sunset.
(B) potentially habitable.
(C) not the hottest side of the planet.
(D) geologically dead.
(E) lacking water, methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 50 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 1 student