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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. How many black holes are estimated per cubic light year of space?

2. Using low level radiation to detect black holes is in what stage of research?

3. In what year was Einstein's vocal support of the Zionist cause recognized?

4. Even empty space is filled with what?

5. If something can escape the event horizon of a black hole, it would be explained by thinking about the behavior of what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the estimated concentration of black holes?

2. What is, according to the book, the most recent attempt to find a complete unified theory?

3. What is the difference between string theory and the other theories?

4. When did the early ideas that the universe is deterministic fall apart?

5. Addressing the question of why the universe exists was once the job of philosophers, but now is not done because of what reason?

6. What might have happened to the black holes left over from the early period of the Big Bang?

7. What is ironic about Einstein's involvement in U.S. politics?

8. Einstein preferred what over the fleeting nature of politics?

9. Using imaginary numbers allows time to do what?

10. Why did the Catholic church demand that Galileo stop writing about Copernican theory?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Based on your reading of the book, why does humanity try to understand the universe and what progress has humanity made in understanding it? Please support your answers with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Using the book to support your answer, answer the following question: Was there a beginning of time and will there be an end?

Essay Topic 3

What principle introduced in Hawking's book is the most influential on our view of the world and universe today? Why? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

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This section contains 499 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample