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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the farthest orbital location that humans have ventured to since the last time men went to the moon?
(a) Parking orbit.
(b) High Earth orbit.
(c) Geosynchronous orbit.
(d) Low Earth orbit.

2. When did the belief that Venus was a "sister planet" to Earth become dispelled?
(a) The mid twentieth century.
(b) The mid nineteenth century.
(c) The late nineteenth century.
(d) The early twentieth century.

3. About how large a percentage of the mass of the total universe does dark matter make up?
(a) Sixty percent.
(b) Five percent.
(c) Thirty percent.
(d) Ninety percent.

4. According to the plans Sagan discussed, how would nuclear weapons typically be used to stop an asteroid from colliding with the Earth?
(a) By splitting it in two.
(b) By destroying it completely.
(c) By reversing its orbit.
(d) By pushing it off-course.

5. Sagan suggests that ancient people did not think of the moon as which of the following?
(a) As a real object.
(b) As having an opposite side.
(c) As a place.
(d) As moving.

6. What planet is the "evening star"?
(a) Venus.
(b) Mercury.
(c) Mars.
(d) Saturn.

7. How does Sagan characterize most of the benefits gleaned from the space programs of the 60s and 70s?
(a) They were underestimated.
(b) They were relatively unimportant.
(c) They were unexpected.
(d) They were intangible.

8. It is believed that some of Saturn's rings may eventually form into what?
(a) Meteors.
(b) Moons.
(c) Comets.
(d) Asteroids.

9. Sagan suggests that the Apollo missions were primarily about what?
(a) Politics.
(b) Military strategy.
(c) Science.
(d) Technology.

10. Which of the following planets is NOT known to have a ring system?
(a) Saturn.
(b) Jupiter.
(c) Uranus.
(d) Venus.

11. Why do some suggest capturing asteroids in Earth orbit?
(a) To use them as space stations.
(b) To study them.
(c) To use them as weapons.
(d) To mine them for resources.

12. Which of the following is NOT a major resource on Mars that makes it viable for "terraforming"?
(a) Water.
(b) Sunlight.
(c) Calcium deposits.
(d) Carbon dioxide.

13. What element does Sagan say motivated the space programs of the 60s and 70s?
(a) Curiosity.
(b) Scientific endeavor.
(c) Brinksmanship.
(d) Nationalism.

14. What does Sagan say the rings of Saturn composed of?
(a) Discs of stone.
(b) Chunks of destroyed planets.
(c) Frozen methane clouds.
(d) Tiny ice worlds.

15. When does Sagan think that the human race will be "on its way"?
(a) When we reach another star.
(b) When we make contact with another intelligent species.
(c) When we begin colonizing other planets.
(d) When we begin living in space.

Short Answer Questions

1. What country does Sagan believe is best suited for undertaking a terraforming effort?

2. When did NASA's SETI program go online?

3. Sagan suggests that humans could live and thrive around what unusual type of star?

4. What is the main component of the atmosphere of Venus?

5. Sagan discusses in detail a theory that Saturn's rings are caused by what effect?

(see the answer keys)

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