Astronomy current events question: exoplanet evaporating around white dwarf WDJ0914+1914

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2020
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, "First Giant Planet around White Dwarf Found" (December 4, 2019)
eso.org/public/news/eso1919/

The white dwarf WDJ0914+1914 is orbited by an evaporating __________, based on analyzing the gases in its surrounding disk. (A) comet belt.
(B) ring system.
(C) antimatter cloud.
(D) Hawking black hole.
(E) Neptune-like exoplanet.

Correct answer: (E)

Student responses
Sections 30679, 30680
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 10 students
(D) : 4 students
(E) : 21 students