Astronomy current events question: Curiosity rover analysis of "Jake Matijevic" rock

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!)

DC Agle, Guy Webster, and Dwayne Brown, "Mars Rock Touched by NASA Curiosity has Surprises," October 11, 2012
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20121011.html

NASA's Mars Curiosity rover used its Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) instrument and the Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) instrument to determine that the "Jake Matijevic" rock is similar in composition to rocks:
(A) that formed deep in Earth's mantle.
(B) found in certain parts of Antarctica.
(C) embedded in asteroid impact craters.
(D) that are light enough to float on water.
(E) containing highly radioactive material.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 21 students
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 3 students