Question 1

At its most fundamental level, the goal of astrobiology is to

Accepted Answer

A)  discover the connection between life and the places it is found 
B)  find how life on Earth originated 
C)  find life beyond the Earth 
D)  understand the biological makeup of other life forms 
A)  discover the connection between life and the places it is found 
B)  find how life on Earth originated 
C)  find life beyond the Earth 
D)  understand the biological makeup of other life forms A

Question 2

The discovery of extrasolar planets indicates that planets around other stars are

Accepted Answer

A)  all Earth-like 
B)  nonexistent 
C)  common 
D)  relatively rare 
A)  all Earth-like 
B)  nonexistent 
C)  common 
D)  relatively rare C

Question 3

Beneath the surface of which moon of Saturn is there evidence for the existence of a subsurface ocean of liquid water?

Accepted Answer

A)  Titan 
B)  Enceladus 
C)  Dione 
D)  Helene 
A)  Titan 
B)  Enceladus 
C)  Dione 
D)  Helene B

Question 4

The molecular building blocks of life have been found

Accepted Answer

A)  only on the Earth 
B)  on the Earth, in interstellar clouds, and in meteorites 
C)  on the Earth and in meteorites 
D)  on the Earth and on Mars 
A)  only on the Earth 
B)  on the Earth, in interstellar clouds, and in meteorites 
C)  on the Earth and in meteorites 
D)  on the Earth and on Mars

Question 5

The scientific discipline of astrobiology is

Accepted Answer

A)  one of the oldest branches of science 
B)  a relatively young branch of science 
C)  a similar age to other fundamental disciplines like physics and chemistry 
D)  a hypothetical branch of science which has yet to be established 
A)  one of the oldest branches of science 
B)  a relatively young branch of science 
C)  a similar age to other fundamental disciplines like physics and chemistry 
D)  a hypothetical branch of science which has yet to be established

Question 6

The ancient view of an Earth-centered geocentric universe suggested that life elsewhere should be

Accepted Answer

A)  common 
B)  rare 
C)  this view gives us no clue of the likelihood of life elsewhere 
D)  at the center of another, parallel universe 
A)  common 
B)  rare 
C)  this view gives us no clue of the likelihood of life elsewhere 
D)  at the center of another, parallel universe

Question 7

On the surface of which moon of Saturn are liquids observed to exist?

Accepted Answer

A)  Enceladus 
B)  Mimas 
C)  Iapetus 
D)  Titan 
A)  Enceladus 
B)  Mimas 
C)  Iapetus 
D)  Titan

Question 8

Which three branches of science are most important in our study of life in the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  physics, mathematics, and astronomy 
B)  astronomy, planetary science, and biology 
C)  planetary science, biology, and mathematics 
D)  biology, mathematics, and physics 
A)  physics, mathematics, and astronomy 
B)  astronomy, planetary science, and biology 
C)  planetary science, biology, and mathematics 
D)  biology, mathematics, and physics

Question 9

The fact that the life on Earth seems to have appeared quite rapidly suggests that life

Accepted Answer

A)  can arise on most habitable worlds 
B)  can only appear soon after a planet forms 
C)  on any kind of planet is inevitable 
D)  is only possible on Earth-like planets 
A)  can arise on most habitable worlds 
B)  can only appear soon after a planet forms 
C)  on any kind of planet is inevitable 
D)  is only possible on Earth-like planets

Question 10

Currently, our best hope of finding life on extrasolar worlds is

Accepted Answer

A)  by interstellar travel 
B)  by searching with telescopes 
C)  by listening to extraterrestrial radio broadcasts 
D)  contact with alien visitors to the Earth 
A)  by interstellar travel 
B)  by searching with telescopes 
C)  by listening to extraterrestrial radio broadcasts 
D)  contact with alien visitors to the Earth

Question 11

Astronomy has shown us that the fundamental laws of physics are

Accepted Answer

A)  the same everywhere in the universe 
B)  the same in our solar system but different beyond the solar system 
C)  completely random and unpredictable 
D)  different on other planets in our solar system 
A)  the same everywhere in the universe 
B)  the same in our solar system but different beyond the solar system 
C)  completely random and unpredictable 
D)  different on other planets in our solar system

Question 12

If life exists on Mars today it will most likely be found

Accepted Answer

A)  everywhere-on the surface, beneath the surface, and in its atmosphere 
B)  on the surface 
C)  beneath the surface 
D)  in its atmosphere 
A)  everywhere-on the surface, beneath the surface, and in its atmosphere 
B)  on the surface 
C)  beneath the surface 
D)  in its atmosphere

Question 13

Using current spacecraft, how long would it take to reach the nearest stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  hundreds of thousands of years 
B)  millions of years 
C)  only a few years 
D)  thousands of years 
A)  hundreds of thousands of years 
B)  millions of years 
C)  only a few years 
D)  thousands of years

Question 14

For most of human history it was believed that the Earth was at the center of the universe. This idea is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  heliocentric 
B)  egocentric 
C)  geocentric 
D)  stellocentric 
A)  heliocentric 
B)  egocentric 
C)  geocentric 
D)  stellocentric

Question 15

The study of life in the universe is best described by the term

Accepted Answer

A)  astrochemistry 
B)  bioastronomy 
C)  astrobiology 
D)  exobiology 
A)  astrochemistry 
B)  bioastronomy 
C)  astrobiology 
D)  exobiology

Question 16

Biologists have found that life on Earth can

Accepted Answer

A)  survive over a wide range of environmental conditions 
B)  only survive on the surface of the Earth 
C)  survive over only a very narrow range of environmental conditions 
D)  survive only in the presence of sunlight 
A)  survive over a wide range of environmental conditions 
B)  only survive on the surface of the Earth 
C)  survive over only a very narrow range of environmental conditions 
D)  survive only in the presence of sunlight

Question 17

The modern view of our place in the universe suggests that life elsewhere may be

Accepted Answer

A)  this view gives us no clue of the likelihood of life elsewhere 
B)  rare 
C)  common 
D)  at the center of another, parallel universe 
A)  this view gives us no clue of the likelihood of life elsewhere 
B)  rare 
C)  common 
D)  at the center of another, parallel universe

Question 18

Among the other planets, probably the most likely place to find evidence for life either now or in the past is on

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus 
B)  Mercury 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  Mars 
A)  Venus 
B)  Mercury 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  Mars

Question 19

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program currently involves

Accepted Answer

A)  broadcasting signals for other advanced civilizations to receive 
B)  listening for signals broadcast by advanced civilizations 
C)  searching for life on planets around other stars 
D)  searching for life in our solar system 
A)  broadcasting signals for other advanced civilizations to receive 
B)  listening for signals broadcast by advanced civilizations 
C)  searching for life on planets around other stars 
D)  searching for life in our solar system

Question 20

Extraterrestrial life elsewhere in the universe

Accepted Answer

A)  will be unrecognizable 
B)  could be similar to life on Earth or might be completely different 
C)  will be identical to life on Earth 
D)  will be completely different than life on Earth 
A)  will be unrecognizable 
B)  could be similar to life on Earth or might be completely different 
C)  will be identical to life on Earth 
D)  will be completely different than life on Earth

At its most fundamental level, the goal of astrobiology is to

The discovery of extrasolar planets indicates that planets around other stars are

Beneath the surface of which moon of Saturn is there evidence for the existence of a subsurface ocean of liquid water?

The molecular building blocks of life have been found

The scientific discipline of astrobiology is

The ancient view of an Earth-centered geocentric universe suggested that life elsewhere should be

On the surface of which moon of Saturn are liquids observed to exist?

Which three branches of science are most important in our study of life in the universe?

The fact that the life on Earth seems to have appeared quite rapidly suggests that life

Currently, our best hope of finding life on extrasolar worlds is

Astronomy has shown us that the fundamental laws of physics are

If life exists on Mars today it will most likely be found

Using current spacecraft, how long would it take to reach the nearest stars?

For most of human history it was believed that the Earth was at the center of the universe. This idea is referred to as

The study of life in the universe is best described by the term

Biologists have found that life on Earth can

The modern view of our place in the universe suggests that life elsewhere may be

Among the other planets, probably the most likely place to find evidence for life either now or in the past is on

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program currently involves

Extraterrestrial life elsewhere in the universe

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters

Exam 1: A Universe of Life

At its most fundamental level, the goal of astrobiology is to

The discovery of extrasolar planets indicates that planets around other stars are

Beneath the surface of which moon of Saturn is there evidence for the existence of a subsurface ocean of liquid water?

The molecular building blocks of life have been found

The scientific discipline of astrobiology is

The ancient view of an Earth-centered geocentric universe suggested that life elsewhere should be

On the surface of which moon of Saturn are liquids observed to exist?

Which three branches of science are most important in our study of life in the universe?

The fact that the life on Earth seems to have appeared quite rapidly suggests that life

Currently, our best hope of finding life on extrasolar worlds is

Astronomy has shown us that the fundamental laws of physics are

If life exists on Mars today it will most likely be found

Using current spacecraft, how long would it take to reach the nearest stars?

For most of human history it was believed that the Earth was at the center of the universe. This idea is referred to as

The study of life in the universe is best described by the term

Biologists have found that life on Earth can

The modern view of our place in the universe suggests that life elsewhere may be

Among the other planets, probably the most likely place to find evidence for life either now or in the past is on

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program currently involves

Extraterrestrial life elsewhere in the universe

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters