Subject: Which experiences more air resistance: book, pencil, marble, feather?

This was a question on my students' end-of-quarter criterion referenced test 
(CRT), which accounts for 20% of their total science grade.  My students said 
the book would experience greater air resistance because of its larger surface 
area, but the correct answer was supposed to be a feather.  My students knew 
that the feather would hit the ground last, but they reasoned that it wasn't 
what the question asked.  I believe the feather falls slower because of a 
lesser terminal velocity, but I still believe the book experiences more air 
resistance.  Can you help?

Re: Which experiences more air resistance: book, pencil, marble, feather?