Astronomy current events question: 55 Cancri e temperature fluctuations

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!)

Sarah Collins, "Astronomers Find First Evidence of Changing Conditions on a Super Earth" (May 5, 2015)
http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/astronomers-find-first-evidence-of-changing-conditions-on-a-super-earth

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope observed variations in atmospheric temperatures from extrasolar planet 55 Cancri e, which may be evidence of:
(A) volcanic activity.
(B) a runaway greenhouse effect.
(C) a polar vortex.
(D) an asteroid impact.
(E) radioactive decay.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Section 30680
(A) : 12 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 0 students