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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Sagan says that which of the following is the most immediately obvious thing about the Earth?
(a) Its geological features.
(b) The existence of life.
(c) The existence of intelligent life.
(d) Its meteorological features.

2. As of 1990, how many planets did the Voyager craft explore?
(a) Five.
(b) Two.
(c) Four.
(d) Three.

3. Sagan expects both Voyager spacecrafts to continue to broadcast data through what year?
(a) 2015.
(b) 2010.
(c) 2030.
(d) 2050.

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

5. What other medium was used to express the desire to wander, according to Sagan, as human civilization developed?
(a) Technology.
(b) Ethics.
(c) Religion.
(d) Law.

6. Uranus has an unusual field around it of what type?
(a) Radiation.
(b) Magnetism.
(c) Gamma rays.
(d) Photons.

7. Which of the following is NOT one of the ways that Sagan says life seems to be?
(a) Meaningless.
(b) Absurd.
(c) Insignificant.
(d) Intentional.

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

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

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

11. What punishment did Galileo suffer as a result of his works?
(a) He was beheaded.
(b) He was put under permanent house arrest.
(c) He was burned at the stake.
(d) He was imprisoned for life.

12. 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 the last known planet.
(d) It was third to last.

13. How does Sagan describe his reaction to the difficulties in detecting human life and intelligence on Earth from space?
(a) Aggravating.
(b) Sobering.
(c) Disappointing.
(d) Unsurprising.

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

15. Sagan believes that Titan hosts oceans made of what compound?
(a) Saturated salts.
(b) Hydrocarbons.
(c) Methane.
(d) Water.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Sagan say that philosophy and religion should provide?

2. What space probe was an important part of Sagan's career, and passed by a major planet in 1976?

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

4. The records on the Voyager craft are most like what type of information storage method?

5. The Voyager probes found large amounts of what element on Titan?

(see the answer keys)

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