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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. Who discovered the period-luminosity phenomena that enabled the distances of the Milky Way and objects in deep space to be measured?

2. There is suspicion that there may be undetected matter which astronomers refer to as what?

3. Who concluded that the process of the earth's creation was part of an infinite repeating cycle of development and destruction?

4. Where was Charles Darwin from?

5. According to the author in Chapter 19, what has demonstrated that man cannot be a detached observer?

Short Essay Questions

1. What discoveries does the author describe regarding spiral nebulae in Chapter 9: "Island Universes"?

2. How have advancements in the sciences improved mankind, according to the author in Chapter 19: "Mind and Matter"?

3. What were the main premises of "The Origin of the Species," according to the author in Chapter 13: "The Age of the Earth"?

4. How does the author describe the world of science in the twentieth century in Chapter 17: "The Axis of History"?

5. How does the author compare telescopes and accelerators in Chapter 17: "The Axis of History"?

6. What were the strengths of Darwin's "The Origin of the Species," according to the author in Chapter 14: "The Evolution of Atoms and Stars"?

7. What advancements led to the discovery of the composition of the stars, according to the author in Chapter 10: "Einstein's Sky"?

8. What three basic areas of study relative to the expansion of the universe does the author describe in Chapter 12: "Sermons in Stones"?

9. Who developed a unified electroweak theory, according to the author in Chapter 16: "Rumors of Perfection"? Where was it tested?

10. What evidences does the author suggest implies extraterrestrial life in Chapter 19: "Mind and Matter"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the theories and works of Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, and Aristotle. How did Tycho prove Aristotle's theories wrong? How did the supernova explosion contribute to Tycho's theories and ideas?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the journey of Captain James Cook in 1768. Who funded Cook's voyage? What was determined by the trip? How did this voyage further the sciences? What impact did it have on history?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the theories of Isaac Newton, Rene Descartes, and Plato. How was Newton influenced by Descartes and Plato? What advancements did Newton make on the theories of the earlier astronomers and philosophers? Also discuss Newton's fascinations with religion, alchemy and magic. How did these interests conflict with his scientific interests?

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