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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. When does Sagan think that the human race will be "on its way"?

2. Sagan worries about how societies of what type would handle the technology that could stop Earth-bound asteroids?

3. What type of Mars mission did President Reagan turn down?

4. When did the belief that Venus was a "sister planet" to Earth become dispelled?

5. Sagan describes the "myth" that he believes should be created as centering around what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sagan conclude about the morality of terraforming and planetary colonization?

2. What does Sagan believe black holes have to offer?

3. How is Venus similar to Earth?

4. What does Sagan want to see on Mars?

5. How could planetary tides pull a small planet apart?

6. What profit motivations exist in a manned mission to Mars?

7. What would the process of "terraforming" on Mars be like?

8. What major environmental catastrophes does Sagan warn against in Chapter 14, "Exploring Other Worlds and Protecting One"?

9. How does Sagan believe that humanity will progress in the next hundred or so generations?

10. What types of strategies are most practical for stopping an Earth-bound asteroid?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sagan suggests that the colonization of distant worlds is both feasible and critical to humanity.

1) Explain how does Sagan envisions colonization of distant worlds occurring. What would be the motive for such efforts?

2) Discuss some of the targets that Sagan suggests for colonization, including non-planets.

3) Describe why Sagan believes that colonization is critical to securing the safety of the human race.

Essay Topic 2

Much of Sagan's discussion in this book centers on the idea that human beings are wanderers by nature. He sees this aspect of the human character as obvious and critical.

1) Explain Sagan's conception of how and why early humans were wanderers.

2) Discuss the ways that Sagan believes human beings cope with the desire to wander in the setting of increasingly sedentary civilizations.

3) Discuss some of the endeavors in space exploration described in the book in terms of the human desire to wander and explore.

4) Explain Sagan's opinion about how humans will become nomadic wanderers again in the future.

Essay Topic 3

Volcanoes are quite common and relatively active on Earth, and can be observed on solid planetary bodies throughout the solar system.

1) Describe the process of volcanism in general, its causes, and its impact on the environment.

2) Discuss the function and nature of volcanoes on Earth and how they interact with the upper atmosphere and eject particles into space.

3) Describe some of the known active or dormant volcano system observed on other planets and moons.

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