Question 1

According to the parameters derived for the Drake Equation, where should astronomers lookfor life in the Milky Way?

Accepted Answer

A) around F, G, or M stars that are in multiple star systems located in the galactic habitable zonewith a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet withinthe star's habitable zone 
B) around O, B, or A stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic nucleus with amultiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within the star'shabitable zone 
C) around F, G, or M stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic habitable zonewith a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet withinthe star's habitable zone 
D) around O, B, or A stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic habitable zonewith a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet withinthe star's habitable zone 
E) around F, G, or M stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic habitable zonewith a multiple planet system with no outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within thestar's habitable zone 
A) around F, G, or M stars that are in multiple star systems located in the galactic habitable zonewith a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet withinthe star's habitable zone 
B) around O, B, or A stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic nucleus with amultiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within the star'shabitable zone 
C) around F, G, or M stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic habitable zonewith a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet withinthe star's habitable zone 
D) around O, B, or A stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic habitable zonewith a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet withinthe star's habitable zone 
E) around F, G, or M stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic habitable zonewith a multiple planet system with no outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within thestar's habitable zone

Question 2

During which step in cosmic evolution did diverse life forms begin to arise?

Accepted Answer

A) particulate evolution 
B) stellar evolution 
C) chemical evolution 
D) biological evolution 
E) cultural evolution 
A) particulate evolution 
B) stellar evolution 
C) chemical evolution 
D) biological evolution 
E) cultural evolution

Question 3

If the material for life were introduced from space after the Earth formed, a major carrierwould have been:

Accepted Answer

A) the solar wind. 
B) tektites from the Moon. 
C) comet impacts. 
D) encounters with other solar systems. 
E) iron meteorites. 
A) the solar wind. 
B) tektites from the Moon. 
C) comet impacts. 
D) encounters with other solar systems. 
E) iron meteorites.

Question 4

The cheapest and probably most effective means of interstellar communication is ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The cheapest and probably most effective means...

Question 5

Recently discovered organisms that create their energy through chemical reactions(chemosynthesis instead of photosynthesis)and live in environments previously thought tooalkaline, hot, cold, dark, saline, etc. to sustain life. These organisms are collectively called:

Accepted Answer

A) viruses. 
B) huge crabs. 
C) extremophiles. 
D) hydrothermal vents. 
E) giant red tubeworms. 
A) viruses. 
B) huge crabs. 
C) extremophiles. 
D) hydrothermal vents. 
E) giant red tubeworms.

Question 6

During which step in cosmic evolution were the chemical bases for life created?

Accepted Answer

A) particulate evolution 
B) stellar evolution 
C) chemical evolution 
D) biological evolution 
E) cultural evolution 
A) particulate evolution 
B) stellar evolution 
C) chemical evolution 
D) biological evolution 
E) cultural evolution

Question 7

Some meteorites that survive the plunge to Earth's surface contain organic compounds.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

How long between the evolution of single versus multicellular organisms?

Accepted Answer

A) 4.5 billion years 
B) 2.5 billion years 
C) one billion years 
D) 600 million years 
E) 63 million years 
A) 4.5 billion years 
B) 2.5 billion years 
C) one billion years 
D) 600 million years 
E) 63 million years

Question 9

Why does SETI concentrate on the water hole?

Accepted Answer

The interval between

Question 10

Most SETI searches are done at:

Accepted Answer

A) X-ray wavelengths. 
B) infrared wavelengths. 
C) visual wavelengths. 
D) radio wavelengths. 
E) gamma wavelengths. 
A) X-ray wavelengths. 
B) infrared wavelengths. 
C) visual wavelengths. 
D) radio wavelengths. 
E) gamma wavelengths.

Question 11

Life is thought to be unlikely in subsurface oceans, such as those in Europa, because sunlightdoes not reach these oceans.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Each factor in the Drake Equation has a well-known, established value.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Comet impacts might have been a good mechanism for seeding the hot early Earth with thewater and molecules of life.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

NASA has found definite proof for the past existence of life on Mars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Large molecules found in meteorites and interstellar clouds is evidence that:

Accepted Answer

A) life is abundant in the galaxy. 
B) life has definitely formed in other places than Earth. 
C) chemical evolution has taken place elsewhere in the Universe. 
D) organic molecules are extremely rare. 
E) life originated on Mars before Earth. 
A) life is abundant in the galaxy. 
B) life has definitely formed in other places than Earth. 
C) chemical evolution has taken place elsewhere in the Universe. 
D) organic molecules are extremely rare. 
E) life originated on Mars before Earth.

Question 16

Which four moons of the jovian planets show the most promise of life?

Accepted Answer

A) Io, Ganymede, Callisto, Europa 
B) Titan, Enceladus, Dione, Mimas 
C) Miranda, Titania, Ariel, Oberon 
D) Enceladus, Europa, Ganymede, Titan 
E) Ganymede, Titan, Miranda, Enceladus 
A) Io, Ganymede, Callisto, Europa 
B) Titan, Enceladus, Dione, Mimas 
C) Miranda, Titania, Ariel, Oberon 
D) Enceladus, Europa, Ganymede, Titan 
E) Ganymede, Titan, Miranda, Enceladus

Question 17

Why are type O, A, and M stars considered poor candidates to find a technologicalcivilization?

Accepted Answer

Considering the time it took life on Ear

Question 18

Which classes of stars with large habitable zones probably don't last long enough for life toevolve to use them?

Accepted Answer

Classes O through A

Question 19

Earth behaves as an artificial pulsar, with the strongest pulses for alien observers when NorthAmerica is either rising or setting.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

What unusual discovery was made about the Murchison Meteorite?

Accepted Answer

A) It is from Mars. 
B) It contains iron. 
C) It contains living cells. 
D) It contains amino acids. 
E) It is the largest known meteorite. 
A) It is from Mars. 
B) It contains iron. 
C) It contains living cells. 
D) It contains amino acids. 
E) It is the largest known meteorite.

Exam 28: Life in the Universe: Are We Alone

According to the parameters derived for the Drake Equation, where should astronomers lookfor life in the Milky Way?

During which step in cosmic evolution did diverse life forms begin to arise?

If the material for life were introduced from space after the Earth formed, a major carrierwould have been:

The cheapest and probably most effective means of interstellar communication is ________.

Recently discovered organisms that create their energy through chemical reactions(chemosynthesis instead of photosynthesis)and live in environments previously thought tooalkaline, hot, cold, dark, saline, etc. to sustain life. These organisms are collectively called:

During which step in cosmic evolution were the chemical bases for life created?

Some meteorites that survive the plunge to Earth's surface contain organic compounds.

How long between the evolution of single versus multicellular organisms?

Why does SETI concentrate on the water hole?

Most SETI searches are done at:

Life is thought to be unlikely in subsurface oceans, such as those in Europa, because sunlightdoes not reach these oceans.

Each factor in the Drake Equation has a well-known, established value.

Comet impacts might have been a good mechanism for seeding the hot early Earth with thewater and molecules of life.

NASA has found definite proof for the past existence of life on Mars.

Large molecules found in meteorites and interstellar clouds is evidence that:

Which four moons of the jovian planets show the most promise of life?

Why are type O, A, and M stars considered poor candidates to find a technologicalcivilization?

Which classes of stars with large habitable zones probably don't last long enough for life toevolve to use them?

Earth behaves as an artificial pulsar, with the strongest pulses for alien observers when NorthAmerica is either rising or setting.

What unusual discovery was made about the Murchison Meteorite?

Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy

The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science

Radiation: Information From the Cosmos

Spectroscopy: the Inner Workings of Atoms

Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

Earth: Our Home in Space

The Moon and Mercury: Scorched and Battered Worlds

Venus: Earths Sister Planet

Mars: a Near Miss for Life

Jupiter: Giant of the Solar System

Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Uranus and Neptune: The Outer Worlds of the Solar System

Solar System Debris: Keys to Our Origin

Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

The Sun: Our Parent Star

The Stars: Giants, Dwarfs, and the Main Sequence

The Interstellar Medium: Gas and Dust Among the Stars

Star Formation: a Traumatic Birth

Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Stellar Explosions: Novae, Supernovae, and the Formation of the Elements

Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter

The Milky Way Galaxy: a Spiral in Space

Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe

Galaxies and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos

Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe

The Early Universe: Toward the Beginning of Time

Filters