Astronomy current events question: Curiosity rover's new drill setting

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2015
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, "Curiosity Pioneers New Drilling Technique on Mars," (February 22, 2015)
http://sen.com/news/curiosity-pioneers-new-drilling-technique-on-mars

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity is using a low percussion drill setting to:
(A) conserve energy.
(B) repair its wheel treads.
(C) sample fragile rocks.
(D) excavate fossils.
(E) save its last drill bit.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 42 students
(D) : 6 students
(E) : 2 students