Astronomy current events question: subsurface water on Mars

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!)

Guy Webster & Dwayne Brown, "NASA Trapped Mars Rover Finds Evidence of Subsurface Water," October 23, 2010
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/news/mer20101028.html

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit detected __________, which may be evidence for subsurface water on Mars.
(A) evaporated puddles.
(B) small and steady Marsquakes.
(C) permafrost.
(D) fossilized quicksand.
(E) different composition soil layers.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 12 students
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 16 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 34 students