It's possible to interpret B as active voice if you consider "surprised" to be adjectival. The "by a shooting star" phrase argues for passive, but the fact that you can say "was very surprised by . . ." argues for an adjectival complement.

I prefer answer A, but I would probably accept B if a student invoked the "very" test.

Beth

From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Dick Veit [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2015 9:24 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: ATEG Digest - 9 Mar 2015 to 10 Mar 2015 (#2015-19)

The question was which clause is in the active voice. A is the only correct answer.

On Wed, Mar 11, 2015 at 7:12 AM, Scott Catledge <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

I do not care what the dimwits who wrote the Kansas test say: A is certainly correct; although B is possible, I am a grammar nazi and I would have chosen A.
Prof. Scott Catledge
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 13:06:01 -0500
> From: Shana Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Assessment question
>
> Please help us settle a debate about this sample 8th grade Kansas state assessment question.
>
> Rosa was admiring the moon when ____________.
>
> Which of the following completes the sentence in the active voice?
>
> A. she spotted a shooting star (this what student selected)
>
> B. she was surprised by a shooting star (this is marked as the correct answer)
>
> C. shooting star was spotted by her
>
> D. a shooting star was wished upon by her
>
>
>
> Thanks for your help on settling this debate so we can explain to the student.
>
> Shana

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