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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. 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) Light and magnetism are the same thing.
(d) The Earth is 6 billion years old.

2. What was the state of the knowledge and belief about life on other planets at the time the book was written?
(a) Most believed life on other planets was impossible.
(b) It was believed there was abundant life on Mars.
(c) No signs of life were known to exist.
(d) Scientists expected to find life on most of the planets and moons.

3. What planet did Sagan spend a great deal of time studying when an important space probe passed near it in 1976?
(a) Mars.
(b) Mercury.
(c) Venus.
(d) Saturn.

4. What does Sagan say that philosophy and religion should provide?
(a) Comfort.
(b) Truth.
(c) Kindness.
(d) Guidance.

5. Sagan suggest that modern religious thinking treats scientific evidence in what way?
(a) It blatantly disregards the evidence.
(b) It is cautious about the evidence.
(c) It intrudes on the evidence.
(d) It makes no statements about the evidence.

Short Answer Questions

1. What hazard threatened the Voyager craft in Sagan's plan to take a distant picture of Earth?

2. What punishment did Galileo suffer as a result of his works?

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

4. Sagan suggests that throughout history, many have claimed that our species is what?

5. How many planets were known to ancient people?

(see the answer key)

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