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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In what century was the geocentric theory conclusively disproved?
(a) The 11th century.
(b) The 19th century.
(c) The 13th century.
(d) The 21st century.

2. What is one trait of human beings that Sagan cites as being responsible for our belief in our importance in the universe?
(a) Insecurity.
(b) Creativity.
(c) Ignorance.
(d) Industry.

3. The records on the Voyager craft are most like what type of information storage method?
(a) A telegraph code.
(b) A phonograph.
(c) Braille.
(d) Magnetic data storage.

4. What does the Geocentric theory state?
(a) The Earth is a flat disc.
(b) The sun moves around the Earth.
(c) The Earth moves in a perfect circle.
(d) The planets and heavens are all fixed.

5. What major component of the Voyager craft was threatened in Sagan's plan to take a distant picture of Earth?
(a) The solar panel array.
(b) The spectral analyzer.
(c) The vidicon system.
(d) The telemetry antenna.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is notable about the stars in Sagan's distant picture of the Earth?

2. What does Sagan suggest that cavemen were usually looking for when they wandered?

3. How old does Sagan state that "fundamentalist monotheists" believe the Earth to be?

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

5. When probes enter the atmospheres of other planets, what color do they often see the sky to be?

Short Essay Questions

1. Briefly describe the progress made to undermine the geocentric theory.

2. What seemingly important features of humanity does Sagan deny to be distinguishing?

3. What is the problem of perspective in estimating the importance of human beings?

4. What planets had been explored by human beings, at the time of the writing of this book?

5. What advantage make it more likely that the Voyager records will eventually be found?

6. What questions does Sagan say he intends to address in this book?

7. What does Sagan believe about the intelligence of the Voyager spacecraft.

8. How does Saga claim that human beings expressed their desire to wander as civilization grew?

9. What undesirable features of human activity might be easily noticed from space?

10. What may have happened to other planets from the early solar system?

(see the answer keys)

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