Astronomy current events question: Kepler data "verification by multiplicity" planet discoveries

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2014
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!)

Elizabeth Howell, "Mega Discovery! 715 Alien Planets Confirmed Using A New Trick On Old Kepler Data," February 26, 2014
http://www.universetoday.com/109764/mega-discovery-715-alien-planets-confirmed-using-a-new-trick-on-old-kepler-data/

NASA researchers confirmed the existence of 715 new extrasolar planets by assuming regular transits across a star are more likely to be caused by planets instead of:
(A) random noise.
(B) solar flares.
(C) sunspots.
(D) companion stars.
(E) moons.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 31 students
(E) : 9 students