Astronomy current events question: Banard b potential for life

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2019
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!)

News release, "New Paper by Villanova Astrophysicists Indicates Potential for Primitive Life on Icy Barnard b Super-Earth Planet if Geothermal Activity Exists" (January 10, 2019)
www1.villanova.edu/villanova/media/pressreleases/2019/0110.html

Barnard b (GJ 699 b) is a cold "super-Earth" exoplanet that may harbor life if it has:  
(A) dark photosynthesis.
(B) mild global warming.  
(C) no cloud cover.  
(D) a strong ozone layer.
(E) geothermal heating.

Correct answer: (E)

Student responses
Sections 30679, 30680
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 11 students
(E) : 31 students