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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 3, The Universe in a Nutshell.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Dirac's discoveries were difficult to reconcile with what?
(a) Hawking's harangue on black hole theory.
(b) Maxwell's unification of magnetism, energy, and electricity.
(c) Popper's theory of demystification.
(d) Newton's law of gravity.

2. What does Hawking believe any good scientific theory should be rooted in?
(a) The philosophy of George Markus.
(b) The scientific work of Isaac Newton.
(c) The philosophy of science advanced by Karl Popper.
(d) The work of mathematician Karl Popper.

3. What do string theories most notably lack?
(a) Dimensions.
(b) Numbers.
(c) Proofs.
(d) Infinities.

4. What do models based on imaginary time make?
(a) Blanket superstitions.
(b) Good predictions.
(c) False predictions.
(d) Innumerable falsities.

5. What may the universe not have, given quantum mechanics?
(a) A beginning and an ending.
(b) Five histories.
(c) A single history or every possible history.
(d) Infinite knowledge.

Short Answer Questions

1. What two things are considered capable of shaping space-time, according to Einstein?

2. What does Hawking believe we should try to understand?

3. How were people's views of space-time changed because of Einstein's work?

4. What did Einstein assume about scientific laws?

5. How did the universe initially expand?

(see the answer key)

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