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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. Sagan says that the moon was once understood as a symbol of which of the following?

2. The atmosphere of Venus would best be described as which of the following?

3. What was the major result of the Cretaceous-Tertiary Collision?

4. What process would be critical to terraforming Mars?

5. What types of information does SETI analyze?

Short Essay Questions

1. What types of strategies are most practical for stopping an Earth-bound asteroid?

2. Why does Sagan believe it is unlikely that a manned mission to Mars will be carried out in the near future?

3. What is unusual about the surface of Venus?

4. How does Sagan believe that humanity will progress in the next hundred or so generations?

5. How could planetary tides pull a small planet apart?

6. What location in the solar system either have or are believed to have once had volcanoes?

7. What resources does Sagan believe that carbon asteroids have that make them suitable for human habitation?

8. How is Venus different from Earth?

9. What does Sagan say that it is probably the fate of humanity to "live in the dark"?

10. Why does Sagan suggest that space exploration aids in protecting the planet?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mars is Earth's nearest neighbor and the best candidate for human exploration and settlement.

1) Explain some of the characteristics of the planet Mars, including those that make it a good candidate for human colonization.

2) Discuss the indicators on Mars that suggest to Sagan that life could be found on the planet.

3) Describe the process that Sagan discusses which would be necessary to terraform Mars.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Sagan suggests that the colonization of distant worlds is both feasible and critical to humanity.

1) Explain how does Sagan envisions colonization of distant worlds occurring. What would be the motive for such efforts?

2) Discuss some of the targets that Sagan suggests for colonization, including non-planets.

3) Describe why Sagan believes that colonization is critical to securing the safety of the human race.

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