Astronomy current events question: Comet C/2013 A1 close approach to Mars

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2013
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!)

Andrew Fazekas, "Monster Comet May Have Mars in its Crosshairs," March 6, 2013
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/03/06/monster-comet-may-have-mars-in-its-crosshairs/

Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) may __________ in September 2014, according to calculations from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
(A) come close to impacting Mars.
(B) pass through Earth's upper atmosphere.
(C) plunge into the sun.
(D) escape from the solar system.
(E) disrupt GPS signals.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 37 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 1 student