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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. According to Sagan, which of the following was the most notable historical tool that humans used to explore the world?
(a) Roads.
(b) The Wheel.
(c) Ships.
(d) Compasses.

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

3. How old does Sagan state that "fundamentalist monotheists" believe the Earth to be?
(a) 1 million years old.
(b) 10,000 years old.
(c) 300,000 years old.
(d) 6,000 years old.

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

5. Sagan suggests that throughout history, many have claimed that our species is what?
(a) Worthless.
(b) Essentially good.
(c) Irredeemable.
(d) Unique.

Short Answer Questions

1. What scientist is well-known for writing about the differences between species of animals?

2. What role does Sagan suggest that religion has played in the development of science?

3. As of 1990, how many planets did the Voyager craft explore?

4. Sagan compares the human need for religion to what?

5. Where does Neptune fall in the mission plan for the Voyager probes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What problems does NASA face in pursuing its missions?

2. How are the Voyager spacecraft able to travel quickly to distant planets?

3. What dangers did the Voyager I spacecraft face in taking a distant picture of Earth?

4. Why did ancient people believe there could not be any other planets beyond the ones they knew about?

5. What contributed to the formation of the first microbes on Earth?

6. What does the image of the "pale blue dot" suggest to Sagan?

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

8. Why is it difficult to detect intelligent life on Earth?

9. Describe the planet Neptune.

10. What does the Strong Anthropomorphic principle suggest?

(see the answer keys)

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