Astronomy quiz question: sunrise location times

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, spring semester 2013
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

[Version 1]
An observer in San Luis Obispo, CA notices the sun rising on the horizon at a point between northeast and east. Approximately how much time elapses until the sun rises on the horizon between a point between east and southeast?
(A) 10 hours.
(B) 12 hours.
(C) 14 hours.
(D) One month.
(E) Three months.
(F) Six months.

Correct answer: (F)

The sun rising between northeast and east means summer solstice for San Luis Obispo, CA (June). The sun rising between east and southeast means winter solstice for San Luis Obispo, CA (December). Thus six months must elapse between rising between northeast and east and rising between east and southeast.

Section 30674
Exam code: quiz01N1nk
(A) : 8 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 3 students
(F) : 12 students
(No response) : 1 student

Success level: 42% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.75

[Version 2]
An observer in San Luis Obispo, CA notices the sun rising on the horizon at a point between east and southeast. Approximately how much time elapses until the sun rises on the horizon between a point between northeast and east?
(A) 10 hours.
(B) 12 hours.
(C) 14 hours.
(D) One month.
(E) Three months.
(F) Six months.

Correct answer: (F)

The sun rising between east and southeast means winter solstice for San Luis Obispo, CA (December). The sun rising between northeast and east means summer solstice for San Luis Obispo, CA (June). Thus six months must elapse between rising between east and southeast and rising between northeast and east.

Section 30676
Exam code: quiz01Sp4t
(A) : 6 students
(B) : 9 students
(C) : 8 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 9 students
(F) : 10 students
(No response) : 2 student

Success level: 26% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.26