Question 1

A Lagrange point in the Earth-Moon system is a position

Accepted Answer

A)  directly between the Earth and Moon 
B)  on the surface of the Moon that points directly away from the Earth 
C)  on the Earth's surface that the Moon's gravity is concentrated 
D)  in space where the effects of the Earth's and Moon's gravity cancel each other out 
A)  directly between the Earth and Moon 
B)  on the surface of the Moon that points directly away from the Earth 
C)  on the Earth's surface that the Moon's gravity is concentrated 
D)  in space where the effects of the Earth's and Moon's gravity cancel each other out

Question 2

The Declaration of Principles Concerning Activities Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence states that the first thing to do after the detection of a possible signal is to

Accepted Answer

A)  send a reply 
B)  announce the discovery to the public 
C)  confirm that it is genuine 
D)  classify it top secret 
A)  send a reply 
B)  announce the discovery to the public 
C)  confirm that it is genuine 
D)  classify it top secret

Question 3

Given that there are several hundred billion stars in the Milky Way Galaxy and preliminary data from exoplanet studies suggest that as many as one in five star systems may have one or more habitable planets, then a reasonable estimate for the number of habitable planets could be about

Accepted Answer

A)  100 billion or more 
B)  1 billion or more 
C)  100 million or more 
D)  10 million or more 
A)  100 billion or more 
B)  1 billion or more 
C)  100 million or more 
D)  10 million or more

Question 4

Which scientist built a radio transmitting tower at the turn of the 20ᵗʰ century and claimed that he was receiving interplanetary communications with it?

Accepted Answer

A)  Guglielmo Marconi 
B)  Thomas Edison 
C)  Nikola Tesla 
D)  Grote Reber 
A)  Guglielmo Marconi 
B)  Thomas Edison 
C)  Nikola Tesla 
D)  Grote Reber

Question 5

The most likely method of interstellar communication is similar to which type of communication on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  sign language 
B)  telepathy 
C)  Morse code 
D)  the spoken word 
A)  sign language 
B)  telepathy 
C)  Morse code 
D)  the spoken word

Question 6

Encephalization Quotient (EQ) values can be estimated for extinct species because

Accepted Answer

A)  there is a linear relationship between the EQ and time, thus allowing extrapolation 
B)  extinct species always have the same EQ value 
C)  we can estimate their body masses from their fossilized remains and their brain masses from the sizes of their fossilized cranial cavities 
D)  we can always find similar species in existence today to make measurements of 
A)  there is a linear relationship between the EQ and time, thus allowing extrapolation 
B)  extinct species always have the same EQ value 
C)  we can estimate their body masses from their fossilized remains and their brain masses from the sizes of their fossilized cranial cavities 
D)  we can always find similar species in existence today to make measurements of

Question 7

Which of the following is a prime number?

Accepted Answer

A)  13 
B)  21 
C)  49 
D)  15 
A)  13 
B)  21 
C)  49 
D)  15

Question 8

Which of the following factors in the simplified Drake equation is best known?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nhp, the number of habitable planets in our galaxy 
B)  fcᵢᵥ, fraction of life-bearing planets where intelligent civilizations have arisen at any time 
C)  fnₒw, fraction of civilization-bearing planets that have intelligent civilizations on them now 
D)  flᵢfₑ, fraction of life-bearing habitable planets 
A)  Nhp, the number of habitable planets in our galaxy 
B)  fcᵢᵥ, fraction of life-bearing planets where intelligent civilizations have arisen at any time 
C)  fnₒw, fraction of civilization-bearing planets that have intelligent civilizations on them now 
D)  flᵢfₑ, fraction of life-bearing habitable planets

Question 9

The adoption of very similar streamlined body shapes by both sharks and dolphins provides evidence for

Accepted Answer

A)  cross-breeding 
B)  convergent evolution 
C)  genetic mutations 
D)  life originating in the oceans 
A)  cross-breeding 
B)  convergent evolution 
C)  genetic mutations 
D)  life originating in the oceans

Question 10

The fact that many different organisms on Earth have developed eyesight provides evidence for

Accepted Answer

A)  cross-breeding 
B)  artificial selection 
C)  convergent evolution 
D)  genetic mutations 
A)  cross-breeding 
B)  artificial selection 
C)  convergent evolution 
D)  genetic mutations

Question 11

The organisms with the highest Encephalization Quotient (EQ) ratios are

Accepted Answer

A)  whales 
B)  dolphins 
C)  chimps 
D)  humans 
A)  whales 
B)  dolphins 
C)  chimps 
D)  humans

Question 12

The sweep technique used in SETI programs is also known as a

Accepted Answer

A)  targeted search 
B)  intentional search 
C)  sky survey 
D)  random search 
A)  targeted search 
B)  intentional search 
C)  sky survey 
D)  random search

Question 13

In the simplified Drake equation, the total number of life-bearing planets in our galaxy is given by

Accepted Answer

A)  NHP 
B)  flᵢfₑ 
C)  NHP × flᵢfₑ 
D)  NHP / flᵢfₑ 
A)  NHP 
B)  flᵢfₑ 
C)  NHP × flᵢfₑ 
D)  NHP / flᵢfₑ

Question 14

The fact that Encephalization Quotients (EQs) of organisms have generally increased with time provides evidence for

Accepted Answer

A)  cross-breeding between organisms 
B)  artificial selection 
C)  genetic mutations 
D)  convergent evolution toward intelligence 
A)  cross-breeding between organisms 
B)  artificial selection 
C)  genetic mutations 
D)  convergent evolution toward intelligence

Question 15

Why was the globular cluster M13 selected as the target for the 1974 Arecibo message?

Accepted Answer

A)  globular clusters are the most likely place to find stars with planetary systems 
B)  stars in globular clusters are rich in heavy elements, the building blocks of life 
C)  signals from advanced civilizations have previously been detected coming from this cluster 
D)  globular clusters are densely packed with stars, hence maximizing the probability of interception by an advanced civilization 
A)  globular clusters are the most likely place to find stars with planetary systems 
B)  stars in globular clusters are rich in heavy elements, the building blocks of life 
C)  signals from advanced civilizations have previously been detected coming from this cluster 
D)  globular clusters are densely packed with stars, hence maximizing the probability of interception by an advanced civilization

A Lagrange point in the Earth-Moon system is a position

The Declaration of Principles Concerning Activities Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence states that the first thing to do after the detection of a possible signal is to

Given that there are several hundred billion stars in the Milky Way Galaxy and preliminary data from exoplanet studies suggest that as many as one in five star systems may have one or more habitable planets, then a reasonable estimate for the number of habitable planets could be about

Which scientist built a radio transmitting tower at the turn of the 20ᵗʰ century and claimed that he was receiving interplanetary communications with it?

The most likely method of interstellar communication is similar to which type of communication on Earth?

Encephalization Quotient (EQ) values can be estimated for extinct species because

Which of the following is a prime number?

Which of the following factors in the simplified Drake equation is best known?

The adoption of very similar streamlined body shapes by both sharks and dolphins provides evidence for

The fact that many different organisms on Earth have developed eyesight provides evidence for

The organisms with the highest Encephalization Quotient (EQ) ratios are

The sweep technique used in SETI programs is also known as a

In the simplified Drake equation, the total number of life-bearing planets in our galaxy is given by

The fact that Encephalization Quotients (EQs) of organisms have generally increased with time provides evidence for

Why was the globular cluster M13 selected as the target for the 1974 Arecibo message?

A Universe of Life

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

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters

Exam 12: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

A Lagrange point in the Earth-Moon system is a position

The Declaration of Principles Concerning Activities Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence states that the first thing to do after the detection of a possible signal is to

Given that there are several hundred billion stars in the Milky Way Galaxy and preliminary data from exoplanet studies suggest that as many as one in five star systems may have one or more habitable planets, then a reasonable estimate for the number of habitable planets could be about

Which scientist built a radio transmitting tower at the turn of the 20ᵗʰ century and claimed that he was receiving interplanetary communications with it?

The most likely method of interstellar communication is similar to which type of communication on Earth?

Encephalization Quotient (EQ) values can be estimated for extinct species because

Which of the following is a prime number?

Which of the following factors in the simplified Drake equation is best known?

The adoption of very similar streamlined body shapes by both sharks and dolphins provides evidence for

The fact that many different organisms on Earth have developed eyesight provides evidence for

The organisms with the highest Encephalization Quotient (EQ) ratios are

The sweep technique used in SETI programs is also known as a

In the simplified Drake equation, the total number of life-bearing planets in our galaxy is given by

The fact that Encephalization Quotients (EQs) of organisms have generally increased with time provides evidence for

Why was the globular cluster M13 selected as the target for the 1974 Arecibo message?

A Universe of Life

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

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters