Astronomy current events question: HIP 11952's "ancient" planets

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2012
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!)

Markus Pössel, "A Planetary System from the Early Universe," March 27, 2012
http://www.idw-online.de/en/news469865

A group of European astronomers have discovered "ancient" planets orbiting the star HIP 11952, which is unusual because:
(A) these planets are made of dark matter.
(B) HIP 11952 is an old, metal-poor star.
(C) these planets should have already vaporized.
(D) these planets are older than HIP 11952.
(E) HIP 11952 already exploded as a type II supernova.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 1 students
(B) : 12 students
(C) : 6 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 4 students