Question 1

One theory for the origin of life proposed that reproducing molecules may have arrived here from space.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Why couldn't life have originated on the Moon or Mercury?

Accepted Answer

For life to begin, liquid wate

Question 3

What prevents Titan from being a candidate for supporting an evolution of life?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is too far from the Sun. 
B)  Its atmosphere doesn't contain the right mixture of elements. 
C)  Its surface is covered in methane lakes. 
D)  Its surface temperature is too cold. 
E)  It is tidally locked to Saturn rather than the Sun. 
A)  It is too far from the Sun. 
B)  Its atmosphere doesn't contain the right mixture of elements. 
C)  Its surface is covered in methane lakes. 
D)  Its surface temperature is too cold. 
E)  It is tidally locked to Saturn rather than the Sun.

Question 4

The function of an enzyme is to ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  carry coded information to the rest of the cell 
B)  regulate chemical reactions within a cell 
C)  provide the basic building blocks of a cell 
D)  carry the genetic information of a cell 
E)  provide the structure and function of a cell 
A)  carry coded information to the rest of the cell 
B)  regulate chemical reactions within a cell 
C)  provide the basic building blocks of a cell 
D)  carry the genetic information of a cell 
E)  provide the structure and function of a cell

Question 5

Life began in the sea.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which celestial body is the most likely candidate for life to emerge and evolve?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars 
B)  Io 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  Venus 
E)  Europa 
A)  Mars 
B)  Io 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  Venus 
E)  Europa

Question 7

Astronomers have defined a(n) _______________ around a star as a region within which planets that orbit there have temperatures permitting the existence of liquid water.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Astronomers have defined a(n) _______________ around a...

Question 8

Can there be life on Mars? Is there proof that life existed on Mars? Defend your answer.

Accepted Answer

There was a splash of news stories in th

Question 9

A unique property of water is that it ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  has a high heat capacity 
B)  can easily expand 
C)  has a high oxygen capacity 
D)  easily absorbs carbon monoxide 
E)  can mix with organic lipids 
A)  has a high heat capacity 
B)  can easily expand 
C)  has a high oxygen capacity 
D)  easily absorbs carbon monoxide 
E)  can mix with organic lipids

Question 10

What element is found in all life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen 
B)  iron 
C)  carbon 
D)  oxygen 
E)  nitrogen 
A)  hydrogen 
B)  iron 
C)  carbon 
D)  oxygen 
E)  nitrogen

Question 11

What are the two basic requirements for life to exist?

Accepted Answer

A)  heat and light 
B)  carbon and water 
C)  oxygen and carbon 
D)  light and carbon 
E)  light and water 
A)  heat and light 
B)  carbon and water 
C)  oxygen and carbon 
D)  light and carbon 
E)  light and water

Question 12

Which describes the direct change in genetic information of a cell?

Accepted Answer

A)  chromosome 
B)  mutation 
C)  evolution 
D)  natural selection 
E)  heredity 
A)  chromosome 
B)  mutation 
C)  evolution 
D)  natural selection 
E)  heredity

Question 13

What organism today is most similar to the first cells on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  diatoms 
B)  protists 
C)  insects 
D)  bacteria 
E)  yeast 
A)  diatoms 
B)  protists 
C)  insects 
D)  bacteria 
E)  yeast

Question 14

The first cells must have been simple, single-celled organisms similar to modern _______________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The first cells must have been simple,...

Question 15

What is a key limitation to traveling outside our Solar System in search for life?

Accepted Answer

A)  We have the wrong type of fuel source to power a spacecraft. 
B)  We lack spacecraft that can escape Earth's gravity. 
C)  We lack a decent place to send spacecraft outside of our Solar System. 
D)  We have no way to communicate with an alien civilization. 
E)  We have not yet been able to develop the technology to travel far distances. 
A)  We have the wrong type of fuel source to power a spacecraft. 
B)  We lack spacecraft that can escape Earth's gravity. 
C)  We lack a decent place to send spacecraft outside of our Solar System. 
D)  We have no way to communicate with an alien civilization. 
E)  We have not yet been able to develop the technology to travel far distances.

Question 16

About 540 million years ago, a sudden increase in biological complexity occurred, known as the _______________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of About 540 million years ago, a sudden...

Question 17

Why couldn't life originate on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  too many craters 
B)  not within a habitable zone in the Solar System 
C)  lack of atmosphere to keep water on its surface 
D)  lack of oxygen in its atmosphere 
E)  too cold a surface 
A)  too many craters 
B)  not within a habitable zone in the Solar System 
C)  lack of atmosphere to keep water on its surface 
D)  lack of oxygen in its atmosphere 
E)  too cold a surface

Question 18

Examine the accompanying figure. Which portion of the radio window astronomers use to search for extraterrestrial communication?

Accepted Answer

A)  a 
B)  b 
C)  c 
D)  d 
E)  e 
A)  a 
B)  b 
C)  c 
D)  d 
E)  e

Question 19

Examine the accompanying figure. Which wavelength range is representative of the noise from Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  a 
B)  b 
C)  c 
D)  d 
E)  e 
A)  a 
B)  b 
C)  c 
D)  d 
E)  e

Question 20

Why can't we send a space mission to a star system outside of our own?

Accepted Answer

The bottom line is that we just don't ha

Exam 26: Astrobiology

One theory for the origin of life proposed that reproducing molecules may have arrived here from space.

Why couldn't life have originated on the Moon or Mercury?

What prevents Titan from being a candidate for supporting an evolution of life?

The function of an enzyme is to ____.

Life began in the sea.

Which celestial body is the most likely candidate for life to emerge and evolve?

Astronomers have defined a(n) _______________ around a star as a region within which planets that orbit there have temperatures permitting the existence of liquid water.

Can there be life on Mars? Is there proof that life existed on Mars? Defend your answer.

A unique property of water is that it ____.

What element is found in all life on Earth?

What are the two basic requirements for life to exist?

Which describes the direct change in genetic information of a cell?

What organism today is most similar to the first cells on Earth?

The first cells must have been simple, single-celled organisms similar to modern _______________.

What is a key limitation to traveling outside our Solar System in search for life?

About 540 million years ago, a sudden increase in biological complexity occurred, known as the _______________.

Why couldn't life originate on the Moon?

Examine the accompanying figure. Which portion of the radio window astronomers use to search for extraterrestrial communication?

Examine the accompanying figure. Which wavelength range is representative of the noise from Earth's atmosphere?

Why can't we send a space mission to a star system outside of our own?

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Moon Phases and Eclipses

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Gravity

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Interstellar Medium

Formation and Structure of Stars

Stellar Evolution

Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Supermassive Black Holes and Active Galaxies

Modern Cosmology

Origin of the Solar System and Extrasolar Planets

Earth the Active Planet

The Moon and Mercury

Venus and Mars

Jupiter and Saturn

Uranus Neptune Pluto and the Kuiper Belt

Meteorites Asteroids and Comets

Filters