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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What abstract concept does Sagan specifically say he is optimistic about?
(a) The future.
(b) The human prospect.
(c) The human capacity for love and discovery.
(d) Human destiny.

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

4. As of 1990, how many moons did the Voyager craft explore?
(a) Thirty.
(b) Six.
(c) Sixty.
(d) Ten.

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

6. What major change have humans made to the environment that would be easily detectable from space?
(a) The pollution of rivers and lakes.
(b) The Three-Gorges dam.
(c) Desertification.
(d) The destruction of the rainforests.

7. When were the Voyager spacecraft launched?
(a) 1972.
(b) 1977.
(c) 1982.
(d) 1969.

8. Sagan suggests that the image of the "pale blue dot" teaches the need for what?
(a) Space exploration.
(b) Kindness.
(c) Peace.
(d) Science education.

9. What is the major difference between space exploration and human exploration in the past?
(a) Humans cannot travel to the places they explore.
(b) There is much more uncertainty in space.
(c) It takes months or years to get to the destination.
(d) It is much less costly, in relative terms.

10. In what way is Titan's cold atmosphere an advantage for the formation of life?
(a) It causes molecules to stay on its surface.
(b) It provides shields the moon from solar rays.
(c) It helps certain compounds form quickly.
(d) It protects its inner core from tidal forces.

11. What does Neptune's moon have less of compared to Titan?
(a) Iron.
(b) Carbon.
(c) Potassium.
(d) Ice.

12. Besides the Voyager spacecraft, what does Sagan cite as a major triumph by NASA?
(a) The Mars rovers.
(b) The Hubble Telescope.
(c) The Gemini project.
(d) The moon landings.

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

14. What does Sagan claim is the key element of humanity's future?
(a) Terraforming.
(b) Faster than light travel.
(c) Deep space travel.
(d) Distant worlds.

15. What planet represents the farthest distance from Earth that the Voyager craft were intended to function at?
(a) Mars.
(b) Uranus.
(c) Jupiter.
(d) Saturn

Short Answer Questions

1. What visual resolution would be required to determine the existence of intelligent life on Earth?

2. What are the records on the Voyager craft engraved in?

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

4. Which of the following is NOT one of the ways that early planets may have been made incapable of bearing life?

5. As of the writing of this book, how many moons was Uranus known to have?

(see the answer keys)

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