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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. What did ancient people notice about planets that set them apart from the stars?

2. What innovation was crucial in discovering Titan?

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

4. What does Sagan suggest that cavemen were usually looking for when they wandered?

5. Where does Sagan think that life will most likely be eventually found?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Sagan's involvement in the passage of Mars by the Viking probe?

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

3. What are the distinguishing characteristics of the moon Titan?

4. How was Sagan involved in discoveries about Titan?

5. Briefly describe the progress made to undermine the geocentric theory.

6. When this book was written, what was known about planets in other solar systems?

7. What undesirable features of human activity might be easily noticed from space?

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

9. What advantage make it more likely that the Voyager records will eventually be found?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Sagan regards the Voyager craft as triumphs of engineering and human ingenuity. These craft were designed to explore most of the planets in the solar system, and then to journey outwards from it to the stars.

1) Describe the Voyager craft, their missions, and capabilities. What planets were these craft intended to explore?

2) Discuss the differences between the Voyager mission and previous efforts in space exploration. How were these craft significantly different?

3) Explain Sagan's particular interest in the Voyager craft and why he believes them each to be a triumph.

4) Summarize some of the important observations that the Voyager craft made.

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 1, Sagan discusses in detail the photo of the "pale blue dot" for which he named this book. He regards it as a singular and impressive symbol of man's place in the universe.

1) Describe how the photo of the "pale blue dot" was taken, the risks involved, and how Sagan was personally involved in its creation.

2) Describe the photo itself, using details from the book.

3) Explain how Sagan thinks that this photo demonstrates part of the triumph of the Voyager spacecraft.

4) Discuss in detail the meaning of this photo to Sagan and what it says to him about man's place in the universe.

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