Astronomy current events question: cross-hatched rocks on Mars

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2017
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!)

Guy Webster, Laurie Cantillo, and Dwayne Brown, "Mars Rover Curiosity Examines Possible Mud Cracks" (January 17, 2017)
nasa.gov/feature/jpl/mars-rover-curiosity-examines-possible-mud-cracks

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover examined rocks cross-hatched with shallow ridges, which may have been caused by:
(A) glacier motion.
(B) rocks rolling downstream.
(C) tectonic plates.
(D) chaotic sandstorm winds.
(E) drying mud.

Correct answer: (E)

Student responses
Sections 30679, 30680
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 14 students
(C) : 10 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 20 students