Astronomy current events question: space telescope "starshade"

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!)

Whitney Clavin, "Space Sunflower May Help Snap Pictures of Planets," March 20, 2014
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-089

NASA engineers proposed a space-based telescope with a flower-shaped "starshade" to:
(A) detect exoplanets around stars.
(B) propel it out of the solar system.
(C) help keep the telescope cool.
(D) protect it from micrometeorites.
(E) collect interstellar dust particles.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680, 30682
(A) : 40 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 7 students
(E) : 5 students