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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 15, The Gates of the Wonder World Open, Chapter 16, Scaling Heaven.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was Neptune's position in the solar system as of the writing of this book?
(a) It's position was uncertain.
(b) It was last.
(c) It was third to last.
(d) It was the last known planet.

2. Why does Sagan say that Mars is a more desirable target for human exploration than the moon?
(a) It has more resources.
(b) It is more like Earth.
(c) It has more to teach.
(d) It is more inhabitable.

3. When was Neptune discovered?
(a) 1955.
(b) 1912.
(c) 1645.
(d) 1846.

4. Earth will most likely lose contact with the Voyager probes when what happens?
(a) They pass the troposphere.
(b) They reach the Kuiper belt.
(c) Their solar cells die.
(d) Their radio transmitters die.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How well does Sagan say his typical audience handles the practical details of a Mars mission?

2. What form do the materials that planets emerge from take before they coalesce into proto-planets?

3. What fault does Sagan admit that science has?

4. At the time this book was written, how many Mars Observers had been flown successfully?

5. Einstein's work undermined what concept?

(see the answer key)

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