Question 1

The Drake equation now tells us that the number of technological civilizations in our Galaxy at this time is:

Accepted Answer

A)  only our own. 
B)  five to ten at most. 
C)  perhaps 3,000. 
D)  millions. 
E)  not known; insufficient data to compute. 
A)  only our own. 
B)  five to ten at most. 
C)  perhaps 3,000. 
D)  millions. 
E)  not known; insufficient data to compute.

Question 2

Choose the list that is correct in order of size from largest to smallest.

Accepted Answer

A)  amino acids, genes, carbon dioxide, DNA 
B)  genes, amino acids, DNA, carbon dioxide 
C)  carbon dioxide, amino acids, genes, DNA 
D)  DNA, genes, amino acids, carbon dioxide 
E)  DNA, genes, carbon dioxide, amino acids 
A)  amino acids, genes, carbon dioxide, DNA 
B)  genes, amino acids, DNA, carbon dioxide 
C)  carbon dioxide, amino acids, genes, DNA 
D)  DNA, genes, amino acids, carbon dioxide 
E)  DNA, genes, carbon dioxide, amino acids

Question 3

Contrast the difficulty in contacting extraterrestrial life using space flight and radio communication.How might each be done? What are the advantages and limitations of each?

Accepted Answer

Space flight to the nearest star would t

Question 4

Hundreds of complex organic molecules exist in deep space,especially in the giant molecular clouds.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

If the material for life were introduced from space after the Earth formed,a major carrier would 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 6

The first step in cosmic evolution is:

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

What is the "water hole"? Why is it so promising to radio astronomers?

Accepted Answer

The "water hole" is the region of the ra

Question 8

For which of these forms of life is it hardest to apply present criteria for life,based on its behavior when isolated?

Accepted Answer

A)  a bacterial spore 
B)  a plant seed 
C)  a virus 
D)  a fungus spore 
E)  a slime mold 
A)  a bacterial spore 
B)  a plant seed 
C)  a virus 
D)  a fungus spore 
E)  a slime mold

Question 9

Which of these radio waves would fall in the "water hole"?

Accepted Answer

A)  15,000 cm in wavelength 
B)  6.563 × cm in wavelength 
C)  19 cm wavelength 
D)  150 cm in wavelength 
E)  243 cm in wavelength 
A)  15,000 cm in wavelength 
B)  6.563 × cm in wavelength 
C)  19 cm wavelength 
D)  150 cm in wavelength 
E)  243 cm in wavelength

Question 10

According to our definition,we have been a technological civilization for about:

Accepted Answer

A)  1000 years. 
B)  10,000 years. 
C)  100 years. 
D)  10 years. 
E)  500 years. 
A)  1000 years. 
B)  10,000 years. 
C)  100 years. 
D)  10 years. 
E)  500 years.

Question 11

How is a technical civilization defined?

Accepted Answer

A)  a civilization that can avoid self-destruction for long periods 
B)  a civilization that can communicate over interstellar distances 
C)  a civilization that has the ability to store and process information 
D)  a civilization that has developed interplanetary space travel 
E)  a civilization that can construct tools out of raw materials 
A)  a civilization that can avoid self-destruction for long periods 
B)  a civilization that can communicate over interstellar distances 
C)  a civilization that has the ability to store and process information 
D)  a civilization that has developed interplanetary space travel 
E)  a civilization that can construct tools out of raw materials

Question 12

An experiment was done where a "primordial soup" of water,methane,carbon dioxide and ammonia was electrified.Following this,the material was found to contain many of the amino acids found in all living things on Earth.The purpose of this experiment was to:

Accepted Answer

A)  determine whether DNA could have formed from electrolysis. 
B)  determine whether DNA could have formed from amino acids. 
C)  determine whether DNA could have formed from water and methane. 
D)  determine whether amino acids could have formed naturally on Earth. 
E)  determine whether amino acids could have formed from water, methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia. 
A)  determine whether DNA could have formed from electrolysis. 
B)  determine whether DNA could have formed from amino acids. 
C)  determine whether DNA could have formed from water and methane. 
D)  determine whether amino acids could have formed naturally on Earth. 
E)  determine whether amino acids could have formed from water, methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia.

Question 13

An extraterrestrial observer would pick up the strongest radio signals when:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Earth was at perihelion. 
B)  North America was either rising or setting for the observer. 
C)  North America was directly in front of the observers. 
D)  at new or full Moon. 
E)  Saturday Night Live is on. 
A)  the Earth was at perihelion. 
B)  North America was either rising or setting for the observer. 
C)  North America was directly in front of the observers. 
D)  at new or full Moon. 
E)  Saturday Night Live is on.

Question 14

The unusual nature of viruses (behaving as living organisms while within them,but becoming inert while isolated)has caused scientists to consider the possibility that:

Accepted Answer

A)  viruses may be considered a kind of life. 
B)  the ability to breathe may need to be added to the definition of life. 
C)  the ability to evolve or mutate should be added to the definition of life. 
D)  the ability to grow should be added to the definition of life. 
E)  the definition of life may be more complex than a simple check list. 
A)  viruses may be considered a kind of life. 
B)  the ability to breathe may need to be added to the definition of life. 
C)  the ability to evolve or mutate should be added to the definition of life. 
D)  the ability to grow should be added to the definition of life. 
E)  the definition of life may be more complex than a simple check list.

Question 15

What is meant by the idea life on Earth had an "interstellar origin"?

Accepted Answer

Organic molecules have been found in com

Question 16

How does Drake define a technological civilization?

Accepted Answer

A)  one that can get into space 
B)  one that can communicate over interstellar distances 
C)  one that has a written language 
D)  one that can construct metal tools 
E)  one that can have the intelligence not to destroy itself 
A)  one that can get into space 
B)  one that can communicate over interstellar distances 
C)  one that has a written language 
D)  one that can construct metal tools 
E)  one that can have the intelligence not to destroy itself

Question 17

What was detected on Halley's Comet and observed on Hale-Bopp that imply the possibility of life on Earth originating in space?

Accepted Answer

A)  DNA 
B)  amino acids 
C)  organic material 
D)  nucleotide bases 
E)  ammonia 
A)  DNA 
B)  amino acids 
C)  organic material 
D)  nucleotide bases 
E)  ammonia

Question 18

How did the Miller-Urey experiment attempt to recreate early conditions on Earth?

Accepted Answer

They combined gasses thought t

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Classes O through A

Question 20

In addition to Mars,which jovian moon shows some promise of life,with a surface not that different from the Arctic Ocean?

Accepted Answer

A)  Titan 
B)  Miranda 
C)  Europa 
D)  Io 
E)  Triton 
A)  Titan 
B)  Miranda 
C)  Europa 
D)  Io 
E)  Triton

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

The Drake equation now tells us that the number of technological civilizations in our Galaxy at this time is:

Choose the list that is correct in order of size from largest to smallest.

Contrast the difficulty in contacting extraterrestrial life using space flight and radio communication.How might each be done? What are the advantages and limitations of each?

Hundreds of complex organic molecules exist in deep space,especially in the giant molecular clouds.

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

The first step in cosmic evolution is:

What is the "water hole"? Why is it so promising to radio astronomers?

For which of these forms of life is it hardest to apply present criteria for life,based on its behavior when isolated?

Which of these radio waves would fall in the "water hole"?

According to our definition,we have been a technological civilization for about:

How is a technical civilization defined?

An experiment was done where a "primordial soup" of water,methane,carbon dioxide and ammonia was electrified.Following this,the material was found to contain many of the amino acids found in all living things on Earth.The purpose of this experiment was to:

An extraterrestrial observer would pick up the strongest radio signals when:

The unusual nature of viruses (behaving as living organisms while within them,but becoming inert while isolated)has caused scientists to consider the possibility that:

What is meant by the idea life on Earth had an "interstellar origin"?

How does Drake define a technological civilization?

What was detected on Halley's Comet and observed on Hale-Bopp that imply the possibility of life on Earth originating in space?

How did the Miller-Urey experiment attempt to recreate early conditions on Earth?

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

In addition to Mars,which jovian moon shows some promise of life,with a surface not that different from the Arctic Ocean?

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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