Astronomy current events question: Iapetus sturzstroms

Astronomy 210L, fall 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!)

Monica Young, "The Curious Avalanches of Iapetus," July 31, 2012
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/The-Curious-Avalanches-of-Iapetus-164470306.html

A Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri graduate student has analyzed high-resolution images of sturzstroms on Saturn's moon, Iapetus, which are:
(A) clouds that produce thunder, but no lightning.
(B) planetary ring disruptions.
(C) thick underground deposits of ice.
(D) large landslides of flowing debris.
(E) cyclonic ice storms.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 8 students
(D) : 41 students
(E) : 7 students