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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to the plans Sagan discussed, how would nuclear weapons typically be used to stop an asteroid from colliding with the Earth?
(a) By splitting it in two.
(b) By destroying it completely.
(c) By pushing it off-course.
(d) By reversing its orbit.

2. When did a "disrupted" comet famously fall into Jupiter?
(a) 2000.
(b) 1964.
(c) 1982.
(d) 1994.

3. According to Sagan, how profitable is it for a nation to invest in space exploration?
(a) It is not related to a nation's welfare.
(b) It has great benefits in a limited scope.
(c) It is highly profitable.
(d) It has high costs.

4. Which of the following is one of the moons of Mars?
(a) Hecuba.
(b) Orpheus.
(c) Phobos.
(d) Gilgamesh.

5. What planet is the "evening star"?
(a) Mars.
(b) Saturn.
(c) Mercury.
(d) Venus.

6. Which of the following characteristics of Venus is LEAST similar to Earth's?
(a) Gravitation.
(b) Mass.
(c) Orbit.
(d) Size.

7. What did Steven Hawking worry about with regard to black holes?
(a) That there were varied types of them.
(b) That they could tear space-time.
(c) That they were growing larger with time.
(d) That they could migrate into the solar system.

8. What is the main component of the atmosphere of Venus?
(a) Quicklime gas.
(b) Hydrogen.
(c) Sulfuric acid.
(d) Phosphate.

9. What does Sagan believe about weapons of mass destruction?
(a) They must be destroyed.
(b) They must never used in anger.
(c) They should be tightly controlled.
(d) They are a necessary evil.

10. What is the acronym for the project within SETI that Sagan worked on?
(a) ARGUS.
(b) SPACE.
(c) TITAN.
(d) MEGA.

11. What types of information does SETI analyze?
(a) Gravitational waves.
(b) Magnetic waves.
(c) Radio waves.
(d) Cosmic rays.

12. Sagan says that the dark matter that surrounds the Milky Way galaxy takes what shape?
(a) A sphere.
(b) A halo.
(c) A column.
(d) A disk.

13. What country does Sagan believe is best suited for undertaking a terraforming effort?
(a) The European Union.
(b) The United States.
(c) China.
(d) Japan.

14. According to Sagan, what was the major advantage of the attitude of the government towards the Apollo project?
(a) Computers advanced in power rapidly.
(b) Rocket science progressed quickly.
(c) New propulsion systems were developed.
(d) There was plenty of funding for space.

15. Sagan suggests that the Apollo missions were primarily about what?
(a) Science.
(b) Politics.
(c) Technology.
(d) Military strategy.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the farthest orbital location that humans have ventured to since the last time men went to the moon?

2. Sagan cautions that the beliefs he endorses could lead to an overabundance of what?

3. What hazard from nuclear weapons causes "nuclear winter"?

4. About how many channels does SETI search for signs of extraterrestrial communication on?

5. What planet in the solar system obviously suffers from a severe greenhouse gas effect?

(see the answer keys)

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