Question 1

Which of the following is most likely to have been responsible for the formation of Valles Marineris?

Accepted Answer

A) Running water 
B) Plate tectonics 
C) Surface faulting 
D) Melting of permafrost 
A) Running water 
B) Plate tectonics 
C) Surface faulting 
D) Melting of permafrost C

Question 2

Which of the following observations led astronomers in the late 1800s to suspect that there might be life on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A) Seasonal variations in dark surface markings 
B) The observation that its atmosphere is largely oxygen 
C) The detection of liquid water on the surface of Mars 
D) Unexplained flashes of light on the night side of the planet 
A) Seasonal variations in dark surface markings 
B) The observation that its atmosphere is largely oxygen 
C) The detection of liquid water on the surface of Mars 
D) Unexplained flashes of light on the night side of the planet A

Question 3

Which of the following kinds of features were not frequently reported by observers of Mars during the late 1800s and early 1900s?

Accepted Answer

A) Long,linear markings 
B) Seasonal changes in coloration 
C) Polar caps 
D) Volcanic eruptions 
A) Long,linear markings 
B) Seasonal changes in coloration 
C) Polar caps 
D) Volcanic eruptions D

Question 4

For which solar system object has the most extensive search for life been made?

Accepted Answer

A) Venus 
B) Jupiter 
C) Mercury 
D) Mars 
A) Venus 
B) Jupiter 
C) Mercury 
D) Mars

Question 5

What accounts for the seasonal changes in the coloration of certain regions on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A) The covering and uncovering of the regions by dust 
B) Melting and refreezing of permafrost 
C) Changes in cloud cover 
D) Migration of large herds of quadrupeds 
A) The covering and uncovering of the regions by dust 
B) Melting and refreezing of permafrost 
C) Changes in cloud cover 
D) Migration of large herds of quadrupeds

Question 6

How does the atmosphere of Mars compare to that of the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Mars's atmosphere is colder,drier,and lower in pressure 
B) Mars's atmosphere is warmer,drier,and lower in pressure 
C) Mars's atmosphere is colder,wetter,and higher in pressure 
D) Mars's atmosphere is colder,drier,and higher in pressure 
A) Mars's atmosphere is colder,drier,and lower in pressure 
B) Mars's atmosphere is warmer,drier,and lower in pressure 
C) Mars's atmosphere is colder,wetter,and higher in pressure 
D) Mars's atmosphere is colder,drier,and higher in pressure

Question 7

What evidence do we have that plate tectonic activity has occurred on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A) Parallel strips of magnetized rock 
B) Dry river beds 
C) Large volcanoes 
D) Several continent-sized highland regions separated by lower regions 
A) Parallel strips of magnetized rock 
B) Dry river beds 
C) Large volcanoes 
D) Several continent-sized highland regions separated by lower regions

Question 8

The temperature on the surface of Mars at Martian noon is closest to

Accepted Answer

A) 27 K 
B) 270 K 
C) 2700 K 
D) 27,000 K 
A) 27 K 
B) 270 K 
C) 2700 K 
D) 27,000 K

Question 9

What evidence do we have that there has been liquid water on Mars's surface in the recent past?

Accepted Answer

A) Small pools of surface water 
B) Ice clouds in the atmosphere 
C) Very young channels near the rims of craters 
D) Observations of large quantities of subsurface ice 
A) Small pools of surface water 
B) Ice clouds in the atmosphere 
C) Very young channels near the rims of craters 
D) Observations of large quantities of subsurface ice

Question 10

Why did the nutrient used in the Viking life-detection experiments contain the isotope carbon 14?

Accepted Answer

A) To sterilize the test chamber 
B) Most terrestrial organisms are especially fond of carbon 14 
C) Its presence can be measured by radiation detectors 
D) In order to be able to survive the long trip through space 
A) To sterilize the test chamber 
B) Most terrestrial organisms are especially fond of carbon 14 
C) Its presence can be measured by radiation detectors 
D) In order to be able to survive the long trip through space

Question 11

How does the atmosphere of Mars compare with that of Venus?

Accepted Answer

A) They are alike in both temperature and chemical composition 
B) They are alike in chemical composition but differ in temperature 
C) They are different in both temperature and chemical composition 
D) They are alike in temperature but differ in chemical composition 
A) They are alike in both temperature and chemical composition 
B) They are alike in chemical composition but differ in temperature 
C) They are different in both temperature and chemical composition 
D) They are alike in temperature but differ in chemical composition

Question 12

Why does Mars have less heat available (relative to the Earth)to drive volcanic activity?

Accepted Answer

A) Mars is smaller than the Earth,and therefore cooled more rapidly 
B) Compared to the Earth,Mars has a smaller area to volume ratio, 
C) Larger planets cool more rapidly than smaller planets. 
D) Mars lost most of its internal heat after colliding with a large,moon sized object. 
A) Mars is smaller than the Earth,and therefore cooled more rapidly 
B) Compared to the Earth,Mars has a smaller area to volume ratio, 
C) Larger planets cool more rapidly than smaller planets. 
D) Mars lost most of its internal heat after colliding with a large,moon sized object.

Question 13

In which of the following forms can water NOT exist on Mars today?

Accepted Answer

A) Lakes 
B) Atmospheric ice crystals 
C) Underground ice deposits 
D) Atmospheric gas 
A) Lakes 
B) Atmospheric ice crystals 
C) Underground ice deposits 
D) Atmospheric gas

Question 14

Which of the following is evidence that some of the volcanoes of Mars are relatively young?

Accepted Answer

A) They have been observed to erupt 
B) They have relatively few impact craters on them 
C) They are covered by channels 
D) Their tops are still covered by snow and ice 
A) They have been observed to erupt 
B) They have relatively few impact craters on them 
C) They are covered by channels 
D) Their tops are still covered by snow and ice

Question 15

Which of the following is evidence that liquid water once existed on the surface of Mars?

Accepted Answer

A) Dry river beds 
B) Mid ocean ridges 
C) Whale bones 
D) High atmospheric humidity at the present time 
A) Dry river beds 
B) Mid ocean ridges 
C) Whale bones 
D) High atmospheric humidity at the present time

Question 16

Where is most of Mars's water likely to be located?

Accepted Answer

A) In ice layers beneath the visible surface 
B) In the polar caps 
C) In the atmosphere in the form of ice crystals 
D) In underground lakes of liquid water 
A) In ice layers beneath the visible surface 
B) In the polar caps 
C) In the atmosphere in the form of ice crystals 
D) In underground lakes of liquid water

Question 17

Why is the daily temperature variation on Mars so much larger than we experience on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Mars spins slowly,so its nights are very long 
B) Mars is much darker than the Earth,so it absorbs more sunlight 
C) Mars's atmosphere is too thin to insulate the surface 
D) Mars has smaller internal heat sources than the Earth 
A) Mars spins slowly,so its nights are very long 
B) Mars is much darker than the Earth,so it absorbs more sunlight 
C) Mars's atmosphere is too thin to insulate the surface 
D) Mars has smaller internal heat sources than the Earth

Question 18

How do we know that the volcanoes of Mars are billions of years old?

Accepted Answer

A) Meteorites from Mars show no evidence of volcanic eruptions 
B) There are impact craters on their slopes 
C) Volcanic eruptions have never been witnessed 
D) Mars has no molten material in its interior 
A) Meteorites from Mars show no evidence of volcanic eruptions 
B) There are impact craters on their slopes 
C) Volcanic eruptions have never been witnessed 
D) Mars has no molten material in its interior

Question 19

How do we know that the stream beds of Mars are relatively ancient?

Accepted Answer

A) There are islands in them 
B) There are impact craters on their floors 
C) The water in them is frozen solid 
D) They all begin on the flanks of Martian volcanoes 
A) There are islands in them 
B) There are impact craters on their floors 
C) The water in them is frozen solid 
D) They all begin on the flanks of Martian volcanoes

Question 20

Much of the material in the polar caps of Mars is frozen

Accepted Answer

A) Methane 
B) Quartz 
C) Ammonia 
D) Carbon dioxide 
A) Methane 
B) Quartz 
C) Ammonia 
D) Carbon dioxide

Exam 11: Mars

Which of the following is most likely to have been responsible for the formation of Valles Marineris?

Which of the following observations led astronomers in the late 1800s to suspect that there might be life on Mars?

Which of the following kinds of features were not frequently reported by observers of Mars during the late 1800s and early 1900s?

For which solar system object has the most extensive search for life been made?

What accounts for the seasonal changes in the coloration of certain regions on Mars?

How does the atmosphere of Mars compare to that of the Earth?

What evidence do we have that plate tectonic activity has occurred on Mars?

The temperature on the surface of Mars at Martian noon is closest to

What evidence do we have that there has been liquid water on Mars's surface in the recent past?

Why did the nutrient used in the Viking life-detection experiments contain the isotope carbon 14?

How does the atmosphere of Mars compare with that of Venus?

Why does Mars have less heat available (relative to the Earth)to drive volcanic activity?

In which of the following forms can water NOT exist on Mars today?

Which of the following is evidence that some of the volcanoes of Mars are relatively young?

Which of the following is evidence that liquid water once existed on the surface of Mars?

Where is most of Mars's water likely to be located?

Why is the daily temperature variation on Mars so much larger than we experience on Earth?

How do we know that the volcanoes of Mars are billions of years old?

How do we know that the stream beds of Mars are relatively ancient?

Much of the material in the polar caps of Mars is frozen

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