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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. In what century was the geocentric theory conclusively disproved?

2. Einstein's work undermined what concept?

3. What is notable about pictures taken of the Earth from the moon?

4. According to Sagan, which of the following was the most notable historical tool that humans used to explore the world?

5. What does the Geocentric theory state?

Short Essay Questions

1. How was Sagan involved in discoveries about Titan?

2. What are the distinguishing characteristics of the moon Titan?

3. What seemingly important features of humanity does Sagan deny to be distinguishing?

4. Why does Saga say he is optimistic about the "human prospect"?

5. What does the image of the "pale blue dot" suggest to Sagan?

6. What dangers did the Voyager I spacecraft face in taking a distant picture of Earth?

7. What planets had been explored by human beings, at the time of the writing of this book?

8. What does Sagan think about the failure of the Voyager probes to find life in the solar system?

9. How are the Voyager spacecraft able to travel quickly to distant planets?

10. What problems does NASA face in pursuing its missions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sagan discusses the a manned mission to Mars as a desirable first step in extending the human race out beyond the Earth but identifies many practical problems with any proposed plan.

1) Explain why Sagan believes that a manned mission should be sent to the planet Mars.

2) Discuss some of the proposals for such a mission, what their aims would be, and how they would be carried out technically.

3) Describe the practical difficulties that Sagan outlines and how they could be overcome.

Essay Topic 2

Sagan presents a thought experiment in Chapter 5, "Is There Intelligent Life on Earth?" He suggests that the observations that a visiting alien might make of Earth would not necessarily reveal the presence of intelligent life.

1) Discuss the thought experiment that Sagan proposes in Chapter 5, and describe the obvious characteristics of the Earth from the perspective of this visitor.

2) Describe the types of observations a visitor to Earth would have to make in order to determine the presence of intelligent life on the planet.

3) Explain how this thought experiment demonstrates Sagan's point about "missing" important details in the search for life in the solar system.

Essay Topic 3

Each of the Voyager craft were fitted with golden phonograph records containing carefully selected information to be sent along with the probes into deep space.

1) Discuss the purpose of the Voyager records.

2) Explain the design of the Voyager records, why they are expected to endure without losing data, and how an alien intelligence would be expected to decode them.

3) Discuss the information contained on the records and why it was selected.

(see the answer keys)

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