Astronomy current events question: Mars' underwater hot springs

Astronomy 210L, fall 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, Jenny Knotts, Laurie Cantillo and Dwayne Brown, "Mars Study Yields Clues to Possible Cradle of Life" (October 6, 2017)
jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6966

Mars may have had underwater hot springs, based on __________ observed by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter:
(A) released gases.
(B) ongoing volcanic eruptions.
(C) infrared heat sources.
(D) mineral deposits.
(E) erosion features.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 6 students
(B) : 6 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 27 students
(E) : 6 students