Astronomy current events quiz: Mars' recurring slope lineae

Astronomy 210L, fall 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!)

Dwayne Brown, Laurie Cantillo, Guy Webster, "NASA Confirms Evidence That Liquid Water Flows on Today’s Mars" (September 28, 2015)
nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars/

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) detected __________, evidence that recurring slope lineae (RSL) may be flowing water.
(A) salt minerals.
(B) bacterial mats.
(C) photosynthesis.
(D) water vapor.
(E) ice crystals.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 27 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 4 students
(E) : 3 students