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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. In a year, how many school days are there in Japan compared to the 180 of the United States?

2. What is it impossible to tell?

3. According to 1983 calculations, how much will the Earth's temperature be reduced by nuclear winter?

4. What was Darwin just about to do when he set sail on the H.M.S. Beagle?

5. Who is Shirley MacLaine?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did James Clerk Maxwell achieve?

2. What is Carl Sagan's favorite sport? Why?

3. Describe the response that Carl Sagan's article in Parade magazine received from readers?

4. What is the distinction between science and 'shamanism' or religious doctrine?

5. How is the baloney detection kit used in this chapter?

6. Describe the accomplishments of Linus Pauling.

7. What is the story of Frederick Bailey?

8. How does Sagan explain the conflict between our material being and the perceived spiritual world?

9. Describe the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.

10. According to Sagan, what is 'perhaps the greatest museum exhibit?' What does it not have?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay describing the scientific method and its impact upon humanity. Be sure to address:

1) Why the scientific method is important.

2) The effect the scientific method has had upon humanity.

3) What you think the world would be like if the scientific method never existed.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that compares and contrasts accounts of demonic encounters/possession with that of alien abduction. Be sure to address:

1) The psychological factors inherent in the cases.

2) The role both still play in culture and society.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay describing a controversial area of science either from history or the present day. Be sure to address:

1) The nature of the controversy.

2) The views of the scientists vs. the views of those who oppose them.

3) How the controversy was resolved, or how you think it can be resolved.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 868 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample