Astronomy current events question: giant impact theory of the moon's formation

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!)

John Matson, "Giant Impact Theory of Lunar Formation Gains More Credibility," October 17, 2012
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=moon-impact-theory

Two sets of researchers have independently proposed refinements of how the moon was formed from a large impact with a newly formed Earth by:
(A) drilling into the Chicxulub impact crater on Earth.
(B) analyzing moonquake data recorded by the Apollo moon landing missions.
(C) measuring the reflectance of neighboring asteroids.
(D) running computer simulation models.
(E) synthesizing new chemicals from the impact event.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 7 students
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 28 students
(E) : 12 students