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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 13, The Gift of Apollo, Chapter 14, Exploring Other Worlds and Protecting This One.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What planet did Sagan spend a great deal of time studying when an important space probe passed near it in 1976?
(a) Mercury.
(b) Saturn.
(c) Mars.
(d) Venus.

2. In what way is Titan's cold atmosphere an advantage for the formation of life?
(a) It protects its inner core from tidal forces.
(b) It helps certain compounds form quickly.
(c) It provides shields the moon from solar rays.
(d) It causes molecules to stay on its surface.

3. Besides the Voyager spacecraft, what does Sagan cite as a major triumph by NASA?
(a) The Gemini project.
(b) The moon landings.
(c) The Mars rovers.
(d) The Hubble Telescope.

4. What is the primary way that humans add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
(a) Burning fossil fuels.
(b) Carburetor emissions.
(c) Heavy industry byproducts.
(d) Drilling for natural gas and oil.

5. The Voyager probes found large amounts of what element on Titan?
(a) Nitrogen.
(b) Oxygen.
(c) Helium.
(d) Iridium.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the main component of the atmosphere of Venus?

2. Titan has what distinction among the moons of the planet it orbits?

3. At the time this book was written, how many planets were known to exist around other stars?

4. In what century was the geocentric theory conclusively disproved?

5. William Herschel, the discoverer of Uranus, had what unusual profession?

(see the answer key)

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