Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space Test | Final Test - Hard

This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 124 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.

Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space Test | Final Test - Hard

This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 124 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.
Buy the Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space Lesson Plans
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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. What did Steven Hawking worry about with regard to black holes?

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

3. Sagan suggests that the Apollo missions were primarily about what?

4. When does Sagan predict that anti-matter will be mass-manufactured?

5. Sagan estimates that intelligent life might arise on average in one out of how many stars?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Venus different from Earth?

2. What resources does Sagan believe that carbon asteroids have that make them suitable for human habitation?

3. What is unusual about the ring systems of the planets in our solar system?

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

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

6. Why does Sagan believe that America sent men to the moon?

7. How well can an asteroid's path be calculated?

8. Why does Sagan suggest that space exploration aids in protecting the planet?

9. What is the purpose of SETI and how does it operate?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Venus was once considered to be a "sister planet" to Earth, but is now known to be dramatically different from our own planet.

1) Discuss the characteristics of Venus, including the oddities in its climate, atmosphere, and surface.

2) Explain some of the similarities and differences between Earth and Venus and explain why this planet was once considered a "sister planet" to Earth.

3) Discuss Venus' unique place in the mythologies of ancient cultures around the world, as well as its unique positioning in the night sky as seen from Earth.

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 1, Sagan discusses in detail the photo of the "pale blue dot" for which he named this book. He regards it as a singular and impressive symbol of man's place in the universe.

1) Describe how the photo of the "pale blue dot" was taken, the risks involved, and how Sagan was personally involved in its creation.

2) Describe the photo itself, using details from the book.

3) Explain how Sagan thinks that this photo demonstrates part of the triumph of the Voyager spacecraft.

4) Discuss in detail the meaning of this photo to Sagan and what it says to him about man's place in the universe.

(see the answer keys)

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