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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 9, An American Ship at the Frontiers of the Solar System, Chapter 10, Sacred Black.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What scientist is credited with making the first discoveries that caused problems for the geocentric theory?
(a) Ptolemy.
(b) Copernicus.
(c) Kelper.
(d) Galileo.

3. What is the constituent particle of light?
(a) The neutrino.
(b) The electron.
(c) The neutron.
(d) The photon.

4. When probes enter the atmospheres of other planets, what color do they often see the sky to be?
(a) Black.
(b) Blue.
(c) Red.
(d) Yellow.

5. What visual resolution would be required to determine the existence of intelligent life on Earth?
(a) 100 meters.
(b) 1 meter.
(c) 10 cm.
(d) 1,000 meters.

Short Answer Questions

1. How fast was Voyager I moving in 1990?

2. In what way is Titan's cold atmosphere an advantage for the formation of life?

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

4. When was Neptune discovered?

5. What is notable about the Sun's light in Sagan's distant picture of the Earth?

(see the answer key)

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