Astronomy current events question: supernova "shock breakout"

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2016
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!)

H. Pat Brennan and Michele Johnson, "Caught For The First Time: The Early Flash Of An Exploding Star" (March 21, 2016)
nasa.gov/feature/ames/Kepler/caught-for-the-first-time-the-early-flash-of-an-exploding-star

NASA's Kepler space telescope detected the shockwave from a supergiant as it:
(A) formed a companion star.
(B) vaporized its inner planets.
(C) passed in front of a black hole.
(D) exploded as a type II supernova.
(E) was impacted by a meteor or comet.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 26 students
(E) : 7 students