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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. A psychologist named George Miller noticed that people seem to be able to easily remember up to how many items at a time?

2. What can a computable number be compressed into?

3. Why do scientists consider the belief in God a meme?

4. "Entropy" was first used by what individual to describe the unavailability of energy?

5. What game did Shannon plan to teach his computer to play?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the relationship between man and his memes?

2. What are examples of memes?

3. What was discovered through the study of thermodynamics about the movement of energy?

4. What is the normal state of molecules in a system? Describe that arrangement.

5. What was Erwin Schrodinger's theory about "genes"?

6. The connection of information with entropy and the physical realm was important to what physics discipline?

7. When was the existence of DNA discovered and by whom?

8. What was zoologist's Richard Dawkins' theory on DNA?

9. What makes a number "computable?"

10. What fundamental problem is inherent in the observation of quantum particles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why is receiving too much information a problem? What innovations on the Internet have been developed to deal with the deluge of information it contains?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the work of Charles Babbage. What was the purpose of his machine, the "difference engine" and how did it function? What contribution did the Babylonians make to mathematics and how was it relevant to knowledge sharing?

Essay Topic 3

What advanced machine did Charles Babbage envision that would be superior to his difference engine? What was Babbage's relationship with Ada Lovelace? Why was she reluctant to be public about her skills in mathematics? How did Babbage encourage her?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 613 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample