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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 year did Galileo die?

2. To illustrate the concept of disorder in a system, Hawking uses what example in Chapter 9?

3. What does Hawking say math is useful for?

4. Hawking believes that scientists are too taken up with the "what" of the universe to ask which question?

5. Galileo was in constant conflict with what church?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did the Catholic church demand that Galileo stop writing about Copernican theory?

2. According to Hawking, people are naturally curious about what?

3. What is, according to the book, the most recent attempt to find a complete unified theory?

4. When and why did Einstein become a pacifist?

5. The Catholic Church allowed Galileo to write a book, but said that it must do what?

6. What is the estimated concentration of black holes?

7. Using imaginary numbers allows time to do what?

8. What does the psychological arrow of time represent?

9. What is ironic about Einstein's involvement in U.S. politics?

10. Hawking considers Galileo to be what?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does the evolution of ideas since the days of mythology have to do with our world view today? Support your answer with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Hawking simplifies many concepts in his book. Using the text to support your answer, what is the purpose of simplifying these ideas? How does Hawking accomplish this simplification of complex scientific ideas?

Essay Topic 3

What do the arrows of time symbolize? What are their purposes? Which one is most important in our universe? Which one would Hawking say is most important? Why? Please use the text to support your answers.

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