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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 3, The Great Demotions, Chapter 4, A Universe Not Made For Us.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What astronomical discovery did Galileo make that significantly damaged the geocentric theory?
(a) Jupiter has its own moons.
(b) Planets move in ellipses.
(c) Gravity moves the planets.
(d) Stars are stationary relative to the Earth.

2. Sagan describes humans as which of the following, with respect to their arrival in the universe?
(a) Middling achievers.
(b) Early adopters.
(c) Extreme latecomers.
(d) Slow movers.

3. The "great demotions" are changes in thinking about the status of what?
(a) The dominance of religion.
(b) The body of human scientific work.
(c) The age of the Earth.
(d) The place of humanity in the universe.

4. What concept does Sagan suggest that the image of the "pale blue dot" mocks?
(a) Individuality.
(b) Human conceit.
(c) Technology.
(d) Human achievement.

5. Sagan suggest that modern religious thinking treats scientific evidence in what way?
(a) It blatantly disregards the evidence.
(b) It is cautious about the evidence.
(c) It makes no statements about the evidence.
(d) It intrudes on the evidence.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Sagan claim is the key element of humanity's future?

2. At the time of the writing of this book, what is the farthest planet that humans had reached through the use of exploratory probes?

3. Sagan suggests that the image of the "pale blue dot" teaches the need for what?

4. How old does Sagan state that "fundamentalist monotheists" believe the Earth to be?

5. Sagan uses what term to describe a theology that requires God to intentionally mislead human scientists?

(see the answer key)

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