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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How fast was Voyager I moving in 1990?

2. What does Neptune posses at its core that Uranus apparently lacks?

3. Titan orbits what planet?

4. About how long does Sagan suggest that human beings have been "settled down"?

5. What criticism does Sagan make of NASA in Chapter 6, "The Triumph of Voyager"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is it difficult to detect intelligent life on Earth?

2. What aspects of science make it unappealing to some?

3. What are the distinguishing characteristics of the planet Uranus?

4. Describe the planet Neptune.

5. Why did ancient people believe there could not be any other planets beyond the ones they knew about?

6. How did ancient people know about the planets?

7. What does Sagan believe about the intelligence of the Voyager spacecraft.

8. How could Dermott's calculations about Titan be confirmed?

9. What dangers did the Voyager I spacecraft face in taking a distant picture of Earth?

10. How has the attitude of the Catholic church towards Galileo changed over time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The program SETI is the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Sagan endorses this program whole-heartedly despite its failure to date and many complaints about its cost.

1) Explain the SETI program and its goals, and how it goes about its search for intelligence.

2) Discuss some of the criticisms about the SETI program.

3) Explain why Sagan maintains his support for the program, despite its failure to date.

Essay Topic 2

Volcanoes are quite common and relatively active on Earth, and can be observed on solid planetary bodies throughout the solar system.

1) Describe the process of volcanism in general, its causes, and its impact on the environment.

2) Discuss the function and nature of volcanoes on Earth and how they interact with the upper atmosphere and eject particles into space.

3) Describe some of the known active or dormant volcano system observed on other planets and moons.

Essay Topic 3

Much of Sagan's discussion in this book centers on the idea that human beings are wanderers by nature. He sees this aspect of the human character as obvious and critical.

1) Explain Sagan's conception of how and why early humans were wanderers.

2) Discuss the ways that Sagan believes human beings cope with the desire to wander in the setting of increasingly sedentary civilizations.

3) Discuss some of the endeavors in space exploration described in the book in terms of the human desire to wander and explore.

4) Explain Sagan's opinion about how humans will become nomadic wanderers again in the future.

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