Question 1

In 2008 the Phoenix spacecraft landed in the Martian arctic and found water ice

Accepted Answer

A)  on the surface 
B)  deep beneath the surface 
C)  just below the surface 
D)  was nowhere to be found 
A)  on the surface 
B)  deep beneath the surface 
C)  just below the surface 
D)  was nowhere to be found

Question 2

The erosion features seen from orbit on the surface of Mars appears to have been formed from

Accepted Answer

A)  running water 
B)  molten lava 
C)  wind 
D)  marsquakes 
A)  running water 
B)  molten lava 
C)  wind 
D)  marsquakes

Question 3

Why must lander probes on Mars be sterilized before launch?

Accepted Answer

A)  to prevent terrestrial microbes hitching a ride on the probe and contaminating the Martian surface 
B)  to prevent terrestrial microbes destroying the electronics in the probe during its passage to Mars 
C)  to prevent Martian dust from building up on the probe on the surface 
D)  to prevent Martian microbes from contaminating the lander probe 
A)  to prevent terrestrial microbes hitching a ride on the probe and contaminating the Martian surface 
B)  to prevent terrestrial microbes destroying the electronics in the probe during its passage to Mars 
C)  to prevent Martian dust from building up on the probe on the surface 
D)  to prevent Martian microbes from contaminating the lander probe

Question 4

The number of impact craters on the slopes of Tharsis volcanoes suggests that they have been inactive

Accepted Answer

A)  since Mars formed 4.6 billion years ago 
B)  for at least a billion years 
C)  for at least tens of millions of years 
D)  only for the last few hundred years 
A)  since Mars formed 4.6 billion years ago 
B)  for at least a billion years 
C)  for at least tens of millions of years 
D)  only for the last few hundred years

Question 5

The first person to claim to see linear features on the surface of Mars was

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

The ancient water erosion features on the surface of Mars suggest that the planet must have had a much

Accepted Answer

A)  warmer, thinner atmosphere in the past 
B)  cooler, thicker atmosphere in the past 
C)  cooler, thinner atmosphere in the past 
D)  warmer, thicker atmosphere in the past 
A)  warmer, thinner atmosphere in the past 
B)  cooler, thicker atmosphere in the past 
C)  cooler, thinner atmosphere in the past 
D)  warmer, thicker atmosphere in the past

Question 7

Compared to the atmospheric pressure at sea level on Earth, the atmospheric pressure on Mars is

Accepted Answer

A)  about the same 
B)  just slightly lower 
C)  much higher 
D)  much lower 
A)  about the same 
B)  just slightly lower 
C)  much higher 
D)  much lower

Question 8

The Earth's axis tilt has changed little over its history due to

Accepted Answer

A)  the stabilizing effects of Jupiter's gravity 
B)  the stabilizing effects of the Sun's gravity 
C)  the stabilizing effects of the Moon's gravity 
D)  its rapid rotation 
A)  the stabilizing effects of Jupiter's gravity 
B)  the stabilizing effects of the Sun's gravity 
C)  the stabilizing effects of the Moon's gravity 
D)  its rapid rotation

Question 9

Isotopic evidence for the presence significant quantities of liquid water on Mars in the past comes from the observation of

Accepted Answer

A)  an elevated ratio of deuterium to hydrogen 
B)  an elevated ratio of hydrogen to deuterium 
C)  a complete absence of hydrogen in the atmosphere 
D)  a complete absence of deuterium in the atmosphere 
A)  an elevated ratio of deuterium to hydrogen 
B)  an elevated ratio of hydrogen to deuterium 
C)  a complete absence of hydrogen in the atmosphere 
D)  a complete absence of deuterium in the atmosphere

Question 10

What is the most convincing piece of evidence to suggest that Martian meteorites actually come from Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  they are igneous rocks 
B)  they contain trapped gases with a similar composition to the Martian atmosphere 
C)  they are red in color 
D)  they show evidence for having been in contact with water 
A)  they are igneous rocks 
B)  they contain trapped gases with a similar composition to the Martian atmosphere 
C)  they are red in color 
D)  they show evidence for having been in contact with water

Question 11

The lack of any obvious source for many outflow channels on Mars suggests that the water originated from

Accepted Answer

A)  underground 
B)  the atmosphere in the form of rain 
C)  ancient melting glaciers 
D)  the atmosphere in the form of snow 
A)  underground 
B)  the atmosphere in the form of rain 
C)  ancient melting glaciers 
D)  the atmosphere in the form of snow

Question 12

In the Tharsis region of Mars we find

Accepted Answer

A)  a huge impact basin 
B)  heavily cratered highlands 
C)  smooth rolling plains 
D)  huge shield volcanoes like Olympus Mons 
A)  a huge impact basin 
B)  heavily cratered highlands 
C)  smooth rolling plains 
D)  huge shield volcanoes like Olympus Mons

Question 13

It is believed that the planet Mars has a much thicker carbon dioxide atmosphere in the past than it does today. Where the bulk of this carbon dioxide go?

Accepted Answer

A)  it reacted with surface rocks 
B)  it condensed to form the polar caps 
C)  it was destroyed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions 
D)  it was lost into space 
A)  it reacted with surface rocks 
B)  it condensed to form the polar caps 
C)  it was destroyed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions 
D)  it was lost into space

Question 14

Approximately how old are the erosion channels seen on the surface of Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  3 billion years 
B)  4.6 billion years 
C)  1 billion years 
D)  500 million years 
A)  3 billion years 
B)  4.6 billion years 
C)  1 billion years 
D)  500 million years

Question 15

The Southern hemisphere of Mars is at

Accepted Answer

A)  an average elevation and is covered with impact craters 
B)  a higher than average elevation and is relatively smooth 
C)  a higher than average elevation and is covered with impact craters 
D)  a lower than average elevation and is relatively smooth 
A)  an average elevation and is covered with impact craters 
B)  a higher than average elevation and is relatively smooth 
C)  a higher than average elevation and is covered with impact craters 
D)  a lower than average elevation and is relatively smooth

Question 16

The atmosphere of Mars is made mostly of

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen 
B)  carbon dioxide 
C)  hydrocarbons 
D)  ammonia 
A)  nitrogen 
B)  carbon dioxide 
C)  hydrocarbons 
D)  ammonia

Question 17

The positive result from the Labeled Release experiment was inconsistent with the results from which other biology experiment or experiments?

Accepted Answer

A)  Carbon Assimilation 
B)  Gas Exchange 
C)  Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer 
D)  it was inconsistent with all of them 
A)  Carbon Assimilation 
B)  Gas Exchange 
C)  Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer 
D)  it was inconsistent with all of them

Question 18

Typically, what color is the Martian sky during the daytime?

Accepted Answer

A)  green 
B)  yellow-brown 
C)  red 
D)  blue 
A)  green 
B)  yellow-brown 
C)  red 
D)  blue

Question 19

What evidence from the careful examination of impact craters provides evidence that Mars had surface water long ago?

Accepted Answer

A)  indistinct rims of many large craters due to water erosion 
B)  lack of small craters which would have been erased by ancient rainfall 
C)  channels where water once flowed between crater lakes 
D)  all of these 
A)  indistinct rims of many large craters due to water erosion 
B)  lack of small craters which would have been erased by ancient rainfall 
C)  channels where water once flowed between crater lakes 
D)  all of these

Question 20

Which of the following do winds on Mars NOT cause

Accepted Answer

A)  global dust storms 
B)  local dust storms 
C)  hurricanes 
D)  dust devils 
A)  global dust storms 
B)  local dust storms 
C)  hurricanes 
D)  dust devils

In 2008 the Phoenix spacecraft landed in the Martian arctic and found water ice

The erosion features seen from orbit on the surface of Mars appears to have been formed from

Why must lander probes on Mars be sterilized before launch?

The number of impact craters on the slopes of Tharsis volcanoes suggests that they have been inactive

The first person to claim to see linear features on the surface of Mars was

The ancient water erosion features on the surface of Mars suggest that the planet must have had a much

Compared to the atmospheric pressure at sea level on Earth, the atmospheric pressure on Mars is

The Earth's axis tilt has changed little over its history due to

Isotopic evidence for the presence significant quantities of liquid water on Mars in the past comes from the observation of

What is the most convincing piece of evidence to suggest that Martian meteorites actually come from Mars?

The lack of any obvious source for many outflow channels on Mars suggests that the water originated from

In the Tharsis region of Mars we find

It is believed that the planet Mars has a much thicker carbon dioxide atmosphere in the past than it does today. Where the bulk of this carbon dioxide go?

Approximately how old are the erosion channels seen on the surface of Mars?

The Southern hemisphere of Mars is at

The atmosphere of Mars is made mostly of

The positive result from the Labeled Release experiment was inconsistent with the results from which other biology experiment or experiments?

Typically, what color is the Martian sky during the daytime?

What evidence from the careful examination of impact craters provides evidence that Mars had surface water long ago?

Which of the following do winds on Mars NOT cause

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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

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Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

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Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

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Exam 8: Mars

In 2008 the Phoenix spacecraft landed in the Martian arctic and found water ice

The erosion features seen from orbit on the surface of Mars appears to have been formed from

Why must lander probes on Mars be sterilized before launch?

The number of impact craters on the slopes of Tharsis volcanoes suggests that they have been inactive

The first person to claim to see linear features on the surface of Mars was

The ancient water erosion features on the surface of Mars suggest that the planet must have had a much

Compared to the atmospheric pressure at sea level on Earth, the atmospheric pressure on Mars is

The Earth's axis tilt has changed little over its history due to

Isotopic evidence for the presence significant quantities of liquid water on Mars in the past comes from the observation of

What is the most convincing piece of evidence to suggest that Martian meteorites actually come from Mars?

The lack of any obvious source for many outflow channels on Mars suggests that the water originated from

In the Tharsis region of Mars we find

It is believed that the planet Mars has a much thicker carbon dioxide atmosphere in the past than it does today. Where the bulk of this carbon dioxide go?

Approximately how old are the erosion channels seen on the surface of Mars?

The Southern hemisphere of Mars is at

The atmosphere of Mars is made mostly of

The positive result from the Labeled Release experiment was inconsistent with the results from which other biology experiment or experiments?

Typically, what color is the Martian sky during the daytime?

What evidence from the careful examination of impact craters provides evidence that Mars had surface water long ago?

Which of the following do winds on Mars NOT cause

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