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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 3, The Great Demotions, Chapter 4, A Universe Not Made For Us.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What means does Sagan suggest that humans use to represent and express their desire to wander?
(a) Adventures.
(b) Trade.
(c) Stories and symbols.
(d) Colonization.

2. Which of the following does Sagan NOT cite as evidence for the age of the universe?
(a) Radioactive dating.
(b) Impact craters.
(c) Star evolution.
(d) Telemetric spectrometry.

3. What did ancient people notice about planets that set them apart from the stars?
(a) They had unique colors.
(b) They were much larger.
(c) They had complex motions and were not fixed.
(d) They grew closer from time to time.

4. Sagan suggests that throughout history, many have claimed that our species is what?
(a) Unique.
(b) Worthless.
(c) Irredeemable.
(d) Essentially good.

5. Which of the following is one of the "great demotions" that Sagan cites?
(a) There may have been life on Mars.
(b) There are planets orbiting other stars.
(c) The Earth is 6 billion years old.
(d) Light and magnetism are the same thing.

Short Answer Questions

1. What concept does Sagan suggest that the image of the "pale blue dot" mocks?

2. What is notable about pictures taken of the Earth from the moon?

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

4. How fast was Voyager I moving in 1990?

5. What astronomical discovery did Galileo make that significantly damaged the geocentric theory?

(see the answer key)

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