Astronomy current events question: V Hydrae ejected gas blobs

Astronomy 210L, fall 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!)

Felicia Chou, Donna Weaver , Ray Villard, Elizabeth Landau, "Hubble Detects Giant 'Cannonballs' Shooting from Star" (October 6, 2016)
nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/hubble-detects-giant-cannonballs-shooting-from-star

Superhot gas blobs ejected from the star V Hydrae detected by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope may be produced when a small companion star:
(A) rapidly cools down.
(B) steals hydrogen to become a nova.
(C) passes through its outer layers.
(D) ignites helium flashes.
(E) pulsates in size.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 8 students
(D) : 9 students
(E) : 0 students