Question 1

The ____________________ is a region around a star where liquid water can exist.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ____________________ is a region around a...

Question 2

How does the likelihood of the survival of technological societies restrict the number of civilizations with which we might communicate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does the likelihood of the survival...

Question 3

The Miller experiment succeeded in creating ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Miller experiment succeeded in creating ____________________....

Question 4

Even if societies on stars in distant galaxies survive at a technological level for only 10 years, that is long enough to establish two-way communication with them.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What part of the radio spectrum is thought most likely to be successful for communication with other civilizations? Why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What part of the radio spectrum is...

Question 6

Replicating early Earth conditions in the lab, the Miller experiment created from inorganic chemicals

Accepted Answer

A)  life. 
B)  artificial proteins. 
C)  DNA. 
D)  simple molds. 
E)  amino acids. 
A)  life. 
B)  artificial proteins. 
C)  DNA. 
D)  simple molds. 
E)  amino acids.

Question 7

The habitable zone around a star is

Accepted Answer

A)  the region on a planet where conditions are acceptable for life to exist. 
B)  a region around a star where a planet's temperature would permit the existence of liquid water. 
C)  very small for a massive star. 
D)  only found around G and K stars. 
E)  a region on a young planet where amino acids can begin to form DNA molecules. 
A)  the region on a planet where conditions are acceptable for life to exist. 
B)  a region around a star where a planet's temperature would permit the existence of liquid water. 
C)  very small for a massive star. 
D)  only found around G and K stars. 
E)  a region on a young planet where amino acids can begin to form DNA molecules.

Question 8

DNA is coiled into a tight spiral and makes up the ____ that are the genetic material in a cell.

Accepted Answer

A)  genes 
B)  amino acids 
C)  enzymes 
D)  nucleus 
E)  chromosomes 
A)  genes 
B)  amino acids 
C)  enzymes 
D)  nucleus 
E)  chromosomes

Question 9

A cell's DNA molecules contain its genetic material. These molecules are constructed of

Accepted Answer

A)  amino acids. 
B)  proteins. 
C)  sugars, phosphates, and bases. 
D)  all of the above. 
E)  none of the above. 
A)  amino acids. 
B)  proteins. 
C)  sugars, phosphates, and bases. 
D)  all of the above. 
E)  none of the above.

Question 10

____ shows that the building blocks of life form naturally under a wide range of circumstances.

Accepted Answer

A)  The Miller experiment 
B)  The Chicxulub event 
C)  The earliest fossils 
D)  The Drake equation 
E)  Stromatolites 
A)  The Miller experiment 
B)  The Chicxulub event 
C)  The earliest fossils 
D)  The Drake equation 
E)  Stromatolites

Question 11

If life is to develop on a planet, the planet must lie well outside its star's habitable zone, where water is in its icy form.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The Arecibo radio message to extraterrestrials contains information about the structure of DNA.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between the 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen and the 18-cm line of OH is known as the ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between...

Question 14

What is important about the habitable zone around a star that makes astronomers believe life could exist there?

Accepted Answer

A)  The level of UV radiation from the star is minimal there. 
B)  Only in the life zone can complex organic molecules be found. 
C)  Planets in the life zone will always have oxygen atmospheres. 
D)  In the life zone water can exist as a liquid. 
A)  The level of UV radiation from the star is minimal there. 
B)  Only in the life zone can complex organic molecules be found. 
C)  Planets in the life zone will always have oxygen atmospheres. 
D)  In the life zone water can exist as a liquid.

Question 15

Why are massive main-sequence stars not likely to have planets that contain life?

Accepted Answer

A)  The life zones around these stars is too small. 
B)  These stars would sweep away all of the material from which planets could form. 
C)  These stars are too hot to allow water to exist as a liquid on any planets that might form. 
D)  These stars are on the main sequence for too short a time to allow life to evolve. 
E)  These stars are almost always binaries and planetary orbits are unstable around binaries. 
A)  The life zones around these stars is too small. 
B)  These stars would sweep away all of the material from which planets could form. 
C)  These stars are too hot to allow water to exist as a liquid on any planets that might form. 
D)  These stars are on the main sequence for too short a time to allow life to evolve. 
E)  These stars are almost always binaries and planetary orbits are unstable around binaries.

Question 16

Chemical evolution concentrated the various smaller molecules into the more stable forms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

What is the significance of the Miller experiment?

Accepted Answer

The Miller experiment, also known as the

Question 18

Why is it believed that life cannot evolve on a planet that orbits a spectral type A, B, or O star?

Accepted Answer

A)  These stars produce too much infrared radiation which would destroy carbon-based organisms. 
B)  These stars have very small life zones. 
C)  These stars are not capable of producing planets. 
D)  These stars do not remain on the main sequence long enough for life to evolve. 
E)  These stars take too long to form. 
A)  These stars produce too much infrared radiation which would destroy carbon-based organisms. 
B)  These stars have very small life zones. 
C)  These stars are not capable of producing planets. 
D)  These stars do not remain on the main sequence long enough for life to evolve. 
E)  These stars take too long to form.

Question 19

The oldest fossils on Earth

Accepted Answer

A)  show that life began in Africa. 
B)  show that life began in lush regions between large rivers. 
C)  show that life began in the oceans. 
D)  are at least 5 billion years old. 
E)  at most 5 million years old. 
A)  show that life began in Africa. 
B)  show that life began in lush regions between large rivers. 
C)  show that life began in the oceans. 
D)  are at least 5 billion years old. 
E)  at most 5 million years old.

Question 20

Current searches for extraterrestrial intelligence use radio telescopes at wavelengths

Accepted Answer

A)  which must be shorter than the local wavelengths emitted by Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  which must be longer than the radio wavelength "noise" naturally emitted by our galaxy. 
C)  both A and B 
D)  Wrong! Visual light wavelengths are used because radio waves are blocked by dust between the stars. 
A)  which must be shorter than the local wavelengths emitted by Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  which must be longer than the radio wavelength "noise" naturally emitted by our galaxy. 
C)  both A and B 
D)  Wrong! Visual light wavelengths are used because radio waves are blocked by dust between the stars.

The ____________________ is a region around a star where liquid water can exist.

How does the likelihood of the survival of technological societies restrict the number of civilizations with which we might communicate?

The Miller experiment succeeded in creating ____________________.

Even if societies on stars in distant galaxies survive at a technological level for only 10 years, that is long enough to establish two-way communication with them.

What part of the radio spectrum is thought most likely to be successful for communication with other civilizations? Why?

Replicating early Earth conditions in the lab, the Miller experiment created from inorganic chemicals

The habitable zone around a star is

DNA is coiled into a tight spiral and makes up the ____ that are the genetic material in a cell.

A cell's DNA molecules contain its genetic material. These molecules are constructed of

____ shows that the building blocks of life form naturally under a wide range of circumstances.

If life is to develop on a planet, the planet must lie well outside its star's habitable zone, where water is in its icy form.

The Arecibo radio message to extraterrestrials contains information about the structure of DNA.

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between the 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen and the 18-cm line of OH is known as the ____________________.

What is important about the habitable zone around a star that makes astronomers believe life could exist there?

Why are massive main-sequence stars not likely to have planets that contain life?

Chemical evolution concentrated the various smaller molecules into the more stable forms.

What is the significance of the Miller experiment?

Why is it believed that life cannot evolve on a planet that orbits a spectral type A, B, or O star?

The oldest fossils on Earth

Current searches for extraterrestrial intelligence use radio telescopes at wavelengths

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Filters

Exam 20: Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

The ____________________ is a region around a star where liquid water can exist.

How does the likelihood of the survival of technological societies restrict the number of civilizations with which we might communicate?

The Miller experiment succeeded in creating ____________________.

Even if societies on stars in distant galaxies survive at a technological level for only 10 years, that is long enough to establish two-way communication with them.

What part of the radio spectrum is thought most likely to be successful for communication with other civilizations? Why?

Replicating early Earth conditions in the lab, the Miller experiment created from inorganic chemicals

The habitable zone around a star is

DNA is coiled into a tight spiral and makes up the ____ that are the genetic material in a cell.

A cell's DNA molecules contain its genetic material. These molecules are constructed of

____ shows that the building blocks of life form naturally under a wide range of circumstances.

If life is to develop on a planet, the planet must lie well outside its star's habitable zone, where water is in its icy form.

The Arecibo radio message to extraterrestrials contains information about the structure of DNA.

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between the 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen and the 18-cm line of OH is known as the ____________________.

What is important about the habitable zone around a star that makes astronomers believe life could exist there?

Why are massive main-sequence stars not likely to have planets that contain life?

Chemical evolution concentrated the various smaller molecules into the more stable forms.

What is the significance of the Miller experiment?

Why is it believed that life cannot evolve on a planet that orbits a spectral type A, B, or O star?

The oldest fossils on Earth

Current searches for extraterrestrial intelligence use radio telescopes at wavelengths

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Filters