Question 1

What field of science are the experiments on the two Mars Rovers Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity most closely related to?

Accepted Answer

A)  physics 
B)  biology 
C)  geology 
D)  astronomy 
A)  physics 
B)  biology 
C)  geology 
D)  astronomy

Question 2

What method has been used to determine the most recent time the Tharsis volcanoes on Mars have erupted?

Accepted Answer

A)  measuring the thickness of lava flows on their sides 
B)  measuring the intensity of infrared radiation emitted by them 
C)  measuring the changes in sulfur compound concentrations in the planet's atmosphere 
D)  counting the craters on their slopes 
A)  measuring the thickness of lava flows on their sides 
B)  measuring the intensity of infrared radiation emitted by them 
C)  measuring the changes in sulfur compound concentrations in the planet's atmosphere 
D)  counting the craters on their slopes

Question 3

Which of the following did NOT contribute to the thinning of the Martian atmosphere during its early history?

Accepted Answer

A)  the photodissociation of water molecules by ultraviolet light in the atmosphere 
B)  the stripping of the atmosphere by solar wind particles from the Sun 
C)  the consumption of carbon dioxide by photosynthetic bacteria 
D)  atmospheric gases being blasted into space by large impacts 
A)  the photodissociation of water molecules by ultraviolet light in the atmosphere 
B)  the stripping of the atmosphere by solar wind particles from the Sun 
C)  the consumption of carbon dioxide by photosynthetic bacteria 
D)  atmospheric gases being blasted into space by large impacts

Question 4

The origin of the erosion features seen on the surface of Mars appears to be due to

Accepted Answer

A)  runoff after rainfall 
B)  erosion by water-rich debris flows 
C)  an underground source 
D)  one or more of these 
A)  runoff after rainfall 
B)  erosion by water-rich debris flows 
C)  an underground source 
D)  one or more of these

Question 5

What are the most likely sources of the methane gas detected in the Martian atmosphere by the Mars Express orbiter and the Curiosity rover?

Accepted Answer

A)  biological activity only 
B)  biological or geological activity 
C)  comet impacts only 
D)  geological activity only 
A)  biological activity only 
B)  biological or geological activity 
C)  comet impacts only 
D)  geological activity only

Question 6

During winter, the northern polar cap of Mars is made of

Accepted Answer

A)  a layer of carbon dioxide ice 
B)  a layer of water ice 
C)  carbon dioxide ice overlaying water ice 
D)  water ice overlaying carbon dioxide ice 
A)  a layer of carbon dioxide ice 
B)  a layer of water ice 
C)  carbon dioxide ice overlaying water ice 
D)  water ice overlaying carbon dioxide ice

Question 7

Which Mars mission searched for life in the Martian soil in the 1970's?

Accepted Answer

A)  Pathfinder 
B)  Phoenix 
C)  Viking 
D)  Mariner 
A)  Pathfinder 
B)  Phoenix 
C)  Viking 
D)  Mariner

Question 8

What evidence supports the hypothesis for a vast, deep ocean which once occupied what is now the northern plains of Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  many of the largest flood channels appear to have drained into the northern plains 
B)  geographic features that look like ancient shorelines 
C)  that the rock along the proposed shoreline is sedimentary rather than volcanic 
D)  all of these are evidence 
A)  many of the largest flood channels appear to have drained into the northern plains 
B)  geographic features that look like ancient shorelines 
C)  that the rock along the proposed shoreline is sedimentary rather than volcanic 
D)  all of these are evidence

Question 9

What is the origin of Martian meteorites?

Accepted Answer

A)  they are rocks brought to Earth by Martians 
B)  they are rocks brought back to Earth by sample return missions 
C)  they are rocks blasted from the surface of Mars by volcanoes; these rocks then floated around in interplanetary space before falling to Earth 
D)  they are rocks blasted from the surface of Mars by impacts; these rocks then floated around in interplanetary space before falling to Earth 
A)  they are rocks brought to Earth by Martians 
B)  they are rocks brought back to Earth by sample return missions 
C)  they are rocks blasted from the surface of Mars by volcanoes; these rocks then floated around in interplanetary space before falling to Earth 
D)  they are rocks blasted from the surface of Mars by impacts; these rocks then floated around in interplanetary space before falling to Earth

Question 10

During summer, the northern polar cap of Mars is made of

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide ice overlaying water ice 
B)  a layer of carbon dioxide ice 
C)  a layer of water ice 
D)  water ice overlaying carbon dioxide ice 
A)  carbon dioxide ice overlaying water ice 
B)  a layer of carbon dioxide ice 
C)  a layer of water ice 
D)  water ice overlaying carbon dioxide ice

Question 11

Who was the one of the first scientists to suggest that Mars may be inhabited?

Accepted Answer

A)  William Herschel 
B)  Percival Lowell 
C)  Giovanni Schiaparelli 
D)  Angelo Secchi 
A)  William Herschel 
B)  Percival Lowell 
C)  Giovanni Schiaparelli 
D)  Angelo Secchi

Question 12

Which of the following statements best describes the idea behind the Labeled Release Experiment on board the Viking landers?

Accepted Answer

A)  living organisms in the soil should give off gases when they metabolize nutrients 
B)  soil with living organisms in it should contain organic molecules 
C)  living organisms in the soil should incorporate carbon from atmospheric gases 
D)  radioactive gases should be produced when radioactive nutrients are added to a soil sample 
A)  living organisms in the soil should give off gases when they metabolize nutrients 
B)  soil with living organisms in it should contain organic molecules 
C)  living organisms in the soil should incorporate carbon from atmospheric gases 
D)  radioactive gases should be produced when radioactive nutrients are added to a soil sample

Question 13

Martian "blueberries" made of the mineral hematite which form in water were first discovered by which Mars rover?

Accepted Answer

A)  Spirit 
B)  Opportunity 
C)  Curiosity 
D)  Sojourner 
A)  Spirit 
B)  Opportunity 
C)  Curiosity 
D)  Sojourner

Question 14

The most recent time that water appears to have flowed on Mars, if only briefly, is during the

Accepted Answer

A)  Amazonian Era 
B)  Hadean Era 
C)  Noachian Era 
D)  Hesperian Era 
A)  Amazonian Era 
B)  Hadean Era 
C)  Noachian Era 
D)  Hesperian Era

Question 15

From the lessons learned by the Viking landers, what do scientists believe is the best kind of robotic space mission with the best chance of detecting life on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  lander 
B)  rover 
C)  sample return 
D)  orbiter 
A)  lander 
B)  rover 
C)  sample return 
D)  orbiter

Question 16

The process of making an uninhabitable planet like Mars habitable and suitable for humans is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  bioforming 
B)  bioadaptation 
C)  terra-restructuring 
D)  terraforming 
A)  bioforming 
B)  bioadaptation 
C)  terra-restructuring 
D)  terraforming

Question 17

The seasonal polar caps which appear and disappear with the seasons on Mars are made of

Accepted Answer

A)  methane ice 
B)  carbon dioxide ice 
C)  water ice 
D)  a uniform mixture of water and carbon dioxide ices 
A)  methane ice 
B)  carbon dioxide ice 
C)  water ice 
D)  a uniform mixture of water and carbon dioxide ices

Question 18

Which was the only biology experiment on the Viking landers which gave a positive result?

Accepted Answer

A)  Labeled Release 
B)  Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer 
C)  Carbon Assimilation 
D)  Gas Exchange 
A)  Labeled Release 
B)  Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer 
C)  Carbon Assimilation 
D)  Gas Exchange

Question 19

When the Martian axis tilt is large, the Martian poles

Accepted Answer

A)  expand and remain permanently frozen, thinning the atmosphere 
B)  contract and partially vaporize, thickening the atmosphere 
C)  extend over the entire surface of the planet 
D)  completely disappear 
A)  expand and remain permanently frozen, thinning the atmosphere 
B)  contract and partially vaporize, thickening the atmosphere 
C)  extend over the entire surface of the planet 
D)  completely disappear

Question 20

What is one hypothesis for why the crust in the northern hemisphere of Mars is thinner and lower than that in the southern hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  a giant impact blasted away crust from the northern hemisphere 
B)  it once hosted an ocean of water which eroded away the crust 
C)  tectonic activity caused the southern hemisphere to rise up above the level of the northern hemisphere 
D)  massive "marsquakes" caused the northern hemisphere to subside 
A)  a giant impact blasted away crust from the northern hemisphere 
B)  it once hosted an ocean of water which eroded away the crust 
C)  tectonic activity caused the southern hemisphere to rise up above the level of the northern hemisphere 
D)  massive "marsquakes" caused the northern hemisphere to subside

What field of science are the experiments on the two Mars Rovers Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity most closely related to?

What method has been used to determine the most recent time the Tharsis volcanoes on Mars have erupted?

Which of the following did NOT contribute to the thinning of the Martian atmosphere during its early history?

The origin of the erosion features seen on the surface of Mars appears to be due to

What are the most likely sources of the methane gas detected in the Martian atmosphere by the Mars Express orbiter and the Curiosity rover?

During winter, the northern polar cap of Mars is made of

Which Mars mission searched for life in the Martian soil in the 1970's?

What evidence supports the hypothesis for a vast, deep ocean which once occupied what is now the northern plains of Mars?

What is the origin of Martian meteorites?

During summer, the northern polar cap of Mars is made of

Who was the one of the first scientists to suggest that Mars may be inhabited?

Which of the following statements best describes the idea behind the Labeled Release Experiment on board the Viking landers?

Martian "blueberries" made of the mineral hematite which form in water were first discovered by which Mars rover?

The most recent time that water appears to have flowed on Mars, if only briefly, is during the

From the lessons learned by the Viking landers, what do scientists believe is the best kind of robotic space mission with the best chance of detecting life on Mars?

The process of making an uninhabitable planet like Mars habitable and suitable for humans is referred to as

The seasonal polar caps which appear and disappear with the seasons on Mars are made of

Which was the only biology experiment on the Viking landers which gave a positive result?

When the Martian axis tilt is large, the Martian poles

What is one hypothesis for why the crust in the northern hemisphere of Mars is thinner and lower than that in the southern hemisphere?

A Universe of Life

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

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Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

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Exam 8: Mars

What field of science are the experiments on the two Mars Rovers Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity most closely related to?

What method has been used to determine the most recent time the Tharsis volcanoes on Mars have erupted?

Which of the following did NOT contribute to the thinning of the Martian atmosphere during its early history?

The origin of the erosion features seen on the surface of Mars appears to be due to

What are the most likely sources of the methane gas detected in the Martian atmosphere by the Mars Express orbiter and the Curiosity rover?

During winter, the northern polar cap of Mars is made of

Which Mars mission searched for life in the Martian soil in the 1970's?

What evidence supports the hypothesis for a vast, deep ocean which once occupied what is now the northern plains of Mars?

What is the origin of Martian meteorites?

During summer, the northern polar cap of Mars is made of

Who was the one of the first scientists to suggest that Mars may be inhabited?

Which of the following statements best describes the idea behind the Labeled Release Experiment on board the Viking landers?

Martian "blueberries" made of the mineral hematite which form in water were first discovered by which Mars rover?

The most recent time that water appears to have flowed on Mars, if only briefly, is during the

From the lessons learned by the Viking landers, what do scientists believe is the best kind of robotic space mission with the best chance of detecting life on Mars?

The process of making an uninhabitable planet like Mars habitable and suitable for humans is referred to as

The seasonal polar caps which appear and disappear with the seasons on Mars are made of

Which was the only biology experiment on the Viking landers which gave a positive result?

When the Martian axis tilt is large, the Martian poles

What is one hypothesis for why the crust in the northern hemisphere of Mars is thinner and lower than that in the southern hemisphere?

A Universe of Life

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters