Astronomy current events question: planetary fragments in white dwarf atmospheres

Astronomy 210L, fall 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!)

Stuart Wolpert, "Ancient Stars Shed Light on Earth's Similarities to Other Planets" (October 17, 2019)
newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/stars-planets-earth-geochemistry

Researchers propose that the composition of exoplanets can be studied by analyzing the __________ of their white dwarfs.
(A) sunspots.
(B) solar flares.
(C) atmospheres.
(D) magnetic fields.
(E) gravitational wobbles.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 11 students
(D) : 16 students
(E) : 4 students