Astronomy current events question: exoplanet HD 189733b atmosphere evaporation

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!)

NASA press release, "Hubble, Swift Detect First-Ever Changes in an Exoplanet Atmosphere," June 28, 2012
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/exoplanet-atmosphere.html

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope observed the upper atmosphere of exoplanet HD 189733b being evaporated by _________ from its star detected by NASA's Swift satellite.
(A) a strong x-ray flare.
(B) a type II supernova explosion.
(C) intense magnetic fields.
(D) dark matter emitted.
(E) runaway heavy fusion.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 35 students
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 6 students
(E) : 0 students