Astronomy current events question: short orbital period exoplanet NGTS-10b

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!)

Tom Frew and Peter Thorley, "18-hour Year Planet on Edge of Destruction" (February 20, 2020)
warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/18-hour_year_planet

Exoplanet NGTS-10b, which has an orbital period of only 18 hours, was discovered as it __________ its star.
(A) collided with.
(B) escaped from.
(C) formed around.
(D) passed in front of.
(E) magnetically interfered with.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 30679, 30680
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 23 students
(E) : 0 students