Question 1

Why do we feel type O and B stars are poor candidates for extraterrestrial life?

Accepted Answer

A)  They do not have a habitable Zone. 
B)  They don't produce enough yellow light. 
C)  Their lifetime is too short. 
D)  They don't produce a planetary system. 
E)  Their habitable zone lies too close to the star. 
A)  They do not have a habitable Zone. 
B)  They don't produce enough yellow light. 
C)  Their lifetime is too short. 
D)  They don't produce a planetary system. 
E)  Their habitable zone lies too close to the star.

Question 2

Describe the reasoning leading to the idea that the number of technological civilizations in the galaxy is equal to the average lifetime of a technological civilization.

Accepted Answer

Taking the other factors into account,th

Question 3

An F-type star would have a larger habitable zone than does our Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Which of the following does NOT reveal information about conditions on the early Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  the fossil record 
B)  the sedimentary rocks found on the most ancient exposures in Greenland 
C)  laboratory simulations of the primordial ocean and atmosphere 
D)  advanced experiments on amino acids 
E)  evidence gleaned from other planets in the early stages of their evolution 
A)  the fossil record 
B)  the sedimentary rocks found on the most ancient exposures in Greenland 
C)  laboratory simulations of the primordial ocean and atmosphere 
D)  advanced experiments on amino acids 
E)  evidence gleaned from other planets in the early stages of their evolution

Question 5

Define "intelligent civilization" according to Drake.

Accepted Answer

Drake defined a technological

Question 6

In the habitable zone,surface water must be at least partially ________ in phase.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the habitable zone,surface water must be...

Question 7

The Drake equation calculates N.What is N?

Accepted Answer

A)  the number of intelligences in the entire universe 
B)  the number of technical civilizations in our galaxy presently 
C)  the number of stars with habitable planets 
D)  the number of planets with life in the universe 
E)  the number of planets in just our galaxy 
A)  the number of intelligences in the entire universe 
B)  the number of technical civilizations in our galaxy presently 
C)  the number of stars with habitable planets 
D)  the number of planets with life in the universe 
E)  the number of planets in just our galaxy

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

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 10

We now know that photosynthesis is not the only energy mechanism that life can use to supply it with energy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

As yet,no human probe has completely left our solar system and gone into interstellar space.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

According to the parameters derived for the Drake Equation,where should astronomers look for 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 zone with a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within the star's habitable zone 
B)  around O, B, or A stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic nucleus with a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within the star's habitable zone 
C)  around F, G, or M stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic habitable zone with a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within the star's habitable zone 
D)  around O, B, or A stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic habitable zone with a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within the star's habitable zone 
E)  around F, G, or M stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic habitable zone with a multiple planet system with no outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within the star's habitable zone 
A)  around F, G, or M stars that are in multiple star systems located in the galactic habitable zone with a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within the star's habitable zone 
B)  around O, B, or A stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic nucleus with a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within the star's habitable zone 
C)  around F, G, or M stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic habitable zone with a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within the star's habitable zone 
D)  around O, B, or A stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic habitable zone with a multiple planet system with jovian outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within the star's habitable zone 
E)  around F, G, or M stars that are in single star systems located in the galactic habitable zone with a multiple planet system with no outer planets and at least one terrestrial planet within the star's habitable zone

Question 14

What do Viking,Pathfinder,and the two Mars Rovers have in common?

Accepted Answer

A)  They all found proof of life on Mars. 
B)  They all could move over the surface of Mars to examine the rocks. 
C)  They all were designed to investigate Mars' potential for life. 
D)  They all are still transmitting data from Mars to Earth. 
E)  They all proved Mars was too inhospitable for life to have every existed there. 
A)  They all found proof of life on Mars. 
B)  They all could move over the surface of Mars to examine the rocks. 
C)  They all were designed to investigate Mars' potential for life. 
D)  They all are still transmitting data from Mars to Earth. 
E)  They all proved Mars was too inhospitable for life to have every existed there.

Question 15

Which of the following appears most favored by natural selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  intelligence 
B)  opposable thumbs 
C)  bipedal locomotion 
D)  binocular vision 
E)  live birth 
A)  intelligence 
B)  opposable thumbs 
C)  bipedal locomotion 
D)  binocular vision 
E)  live birth

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

How long ago did multicellular life forms appear in the fossil record?

Accepted Answer

A)  4.5 billion years ago 
B)  3.8 billion years ago 
C)  one billion years ago 
D)  63 million years ago 
E)  30 million years ago 
A)  4.5 billion years ago 
B)  3.8 billion years ago 
C)  one billion years ago 
D)  63 million years ago 
E)  30 million years ago

Question 18

What other recent hypotheses would corroborate the hypothesis that life on Earth originated in space? (Choose all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  amino acids forming DNA 
B)  meteorites containing amino acids 
C)  cometary impacts as the source of water on Earth 
D)  early aerobic organisms created the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere 
E)  the fossil record showing how biological organisms on Earth have changed over time 
A)  amino acids forming DNA 
B)  meteorites containing amino acids 
C)  cometary impacts as the source of water on Earth 
D)  early aerobic organisms created the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere 
E)  the fossil record showing how biological organisms on Earth have changed over time

Question 19

What three classes of stars are most likely to house life like ours? Why?

Accepted Answer

F,G,and K are all similar enou

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

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

Exam 28: Life in the Universe: Are We Alone?

Why do we feel type O and B stars are poor candidates for extraterrestrial life?

Describe the reasoning leading to the idea that the number of technological civilizations in the galaxy is equal to the average lifetime of a technological civilization.

An F-type star would have a larger habitable zone than does our Sun.

Which of the following does NOT reveal information about conditions on the early Earth?

Define "intelligent civilization" according to Drake.

In the habitable zone,surface water must be at least partially ________ in phase.

The Drake equation calculates N.What is N?

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

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

We now know that photosynthesis is not the only energy mechanism that life can use to supply it with energy.

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

As yet,no human probe has completely left our solar system and gone into interstellar space.

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

What do Viking,Pathfinder,and the two Mars Rovers have in common?

Which of the following appears most favored by natural selection?

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

How long ago did multicellular life forms appear in the fossil record?

What other recent hypotheses would corroborate the hypothesis that life on Earth originated in space? (Choose all that apply.)

What three classes of stars are most likely to house life like ours? Why?

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

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: Earth's 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

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