Question 1

As global warming raises the moisture content in our atmosphere, storms will

Accepted Answer

A)  become less numerous and less severe 
B)  disappear all together 
C)  become less numerous but more severe 
D)  become more numerous and severe 
A)  become less numerous and less severe 
B)  disappear all together 
C)  become less numerous but more severe 
D)  become more numerous and severe D

Question 2

Most of the carbon dioxide on the Earth

Accepted Answer

A)  is locked up in carbonate rocks in its crust or is dissolved in the oceans 
B)  is trapped beneath the surface of the planet in gaseous form 
C)  has escaped into space 
D)  is located in its atmosphere 
A)  is locked up in carbonate rocks in its crust or is dissolved in the oceans 
B)  is trapped beneath the surface of the planet in gaseous form 
C)  has escaped into space 
D)  is located in its atmosphere A

Question 3

Most of the water that used to be present in the Venusian atmosphere

Accepted Answer

A)  was destroyed in the atmosphere by ultraviolet light from the Sun 
B)  became chemically incorporated into rocks in the crust 
C)  was blasted into space by impacts 
D)  escaped into space 
A)  was destroyed in the atmosphere by ultraviolet light from the Sun 
B)  became chemically incorporated into rocks in the crust 
C)  was blasted into space by impacts 
D)  escaped into space A

Question 4

Evidence for the loss of water from the atmosphere of Venus via the action of ultraviolet light comes from the

Accepted Answer

A)  observation of auroras high in the Venusian atmosphere caused by the action of ultraviolet light on water molecules 
B)  fact that today, water is found only in the upper atmosphere of Venus 
C)  observation of an ozone layer in the atmosphere which is formed from the breakup of water molecules by ultraviolet radiation 
D)  observation of an excess of heavy hydrogen (deuterium) atoms in the atmosphere which are less easily able to escape once the water is broken apart 
A)  observation of auroras high in the Venusian atmosphere caused by the action of ultraviolet light on water molecules 
B)  fact that today, water is found only in the upper atmosphere of Venus 
C)  observation of an ozone layer in the atmosphere which is formed from the breakup of water molecules by ultraviolet radiation 
D)  observation of an excess of heavy hydrogen (deuterium) atoms in the atmosphere which are less easily able to escape once the water is broken apart

Question 5

During the last century, sea levels have risen by

Accepted Answer

A)  about 1 meter 
B)  about 20 centimeters 
C)  about 2 millimeters 
D)  less than 1 millimeter 
A)  about 1 meter 
B)  about 20 centimeters 
C)  about 2 millimeters 
D)  less than 1 millimeter

Question 6

The recent gradual rise in the Earth's average surface temperature is commonly referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  global warming 
B)  the greenhouse effect 
C)  ozone depletion 
D)  global heating 
A)  global warming 
B)  the greenhouse effect 
C)  ozone depletion 
D)  global heating

Question 7

If we allow for moisture loss due to a moist greenhouse effect, the inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

Accepted Answer

A)  just inside the orbit of the Earth 
B)  roughly halfway between the orbits of Venus and Mercury 
C)  roughly halfway between the orbits of the Earth and Venus 
D)  just outside the orbit of the planet Mercury 
A)  just inside the orbit of the Earth 
B)  roughly halfway between the orbits of Venus and Mercury 
C)  roughly halfway between the orbits of the Earth and Venus 
D)  just outside the orbit of the planet Mercury

Question 8

If global warming causes the frozen Arctic ocean to melt, global ocean levels will not rise since

Accepted Answer

A)  the ice will reform in the Antarctic ocean 
B)  the melting of floating ice does not affect sea levels 
C)  the Greenland ice cap will thicken by a corresponding amount 
D)  more water will evaporate into the atmosphere 
A)  the ice will reform in the Antarctic ocean 
B)  the melting of floating ice does not affect sea levels 
C)  the Greenland ice cap will thicken by a corresponding amount 
D)  more water will evaporate into the atmosphere

Question 9

Even though low luminosity stars have narrow habitable zones and hence are less likely to have planets within these zones, they make up for this shortcoming by virtue of the fact that

Accepted Answer

A)  they are very common 
B)  they have very long lifetimes 
C)  planets are much more likely to form around them 
D)  planets around these stars can only form in their habitable zones 
A)  they are very common 
B)  they have very long lifetimes 
C)  planets are much more likely to form around them 
D)  planets around these stars can only form in their habitable zones

Question 10

As global warming continues, weather patterns will change causing

Accepted Answer

A)  some parts of the Earth's landmass to become warmer while other parts will actually get colder. The ocean temperatures will continue to rise 
B)  only the oceans to become warmer while the landmasses will become colder 
C)  only the landmasses to become warmer while the oceans will become colder 
D)  all parts of the Earth's surface will become warmer 
A)  some parts of the Earth's landmass to become warmer while other parts will actually get colder. The ocean temperatures will continue to rise 
B)  only the oceans to become warmer while the landmasses will become colder 
C)  only the landmasses to become warmer while the oceans will become colder 
D)  all parts of the Earth's surface will become warmer

Question 11

Optimistically, the habitable zone of the Sun (a G-star) is calculated to extend from about 0.84 to 1.7 AU, while the habitable zones of more massive and luminous A-stars are calculated to extend from about 3.8 to 7.6 AU. Given that G-stars are 7 times more numerous than A-stars, what is the percentage of planets expected in habitable zones around A-stars compared to G-stars like our Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  63 % 
B)  440 % 
C)  31 % 
D)  4.4 % 
A)  63 % 
B)  440 % 
C)  31 % 
D)  4.4 %

Question 12

Most of the carbon dioxide on Venus

Accepted Answer

A)  is trapped beneath the surface of the planet in gaseous form 
B)  has escaped into space 
C)  is present in its atmosphere 
D)  is locked up in carbonate rocks in its crust 
A)  is trapped beneath the surface of the planet in gaseous form 
B)  has escaped into space 
C)  is present in its atmosphere 
D)  is locked up in carbonate rocks in its crust

Question 13

Over the past century, the largest increase in global temperatures has occurred during the last

Accepted Answer

A)  30 years 
B)  10 years 
C)  50 years 
D)  2 years 
A)  30 years 
B)  10 years 
C)  50 years 
D)  2 years

Question 14

While there is no doubt that global temperatures are increasing, it is

Accepted Answer

A)  now becoming clear that human activity is indeed causing global warming 
B)  now becoming clear that this effect is due to the slow brightening of the Sun 
C)  now certain that human activity has no effect on the Earth's climate 
D)  still not clear whether human activity is affecting the climate at all 
A)  now becoming clear that human activity is indeed causing global warming 
B)  now becoming clear that this effect is due to the slow brightening of the Sun 
C)  now certain that human activity has no effect on the Earth's climate 
D)  still not clear whether human activity is affecting the climate at all

Question 15

Europa is located outside the Sun's habitable zone and yet may be habitable. How can this be?

Accepted Answer

A)  Europa's subsurface ocean contains lots of minerals that allow water to remain liquid at much lower temperatures 
B)  Europa is continually being hit by comets and asteroids which keeps water beneath its surface liquid 
C)  Europa is tidally heated, allowing liquid water to exist beneath its icy surface 
D)  Europa is large enough to have appreciable heat trapped inside it to keep water beneath the surface liquid 
A)  Europa's subsurface ocean contains lots of minerals that allow water to remain liquid at much lower temperatures 
B)  Europa is continually being hit by comets and asteroids which keeps water beneath its surface liquid 
C)  Europa is tidally heated, allowing liquid water to exist beneath its icy surface 
D)  Europa is large enough to have appreciable heat trapped inside it to keep water beneath the surface liquid

Question 16

Compared to today, in the future, the Sun's habitable zone will be

Accepted Answer

A)  wider and closer to the Sun 
B)  narrower and closer to the Sun 
C)  narrower and farther from the Sun 
D)  wider and farther from the Sun 
A)  wider and closer to the Sun 
B)  narrower and closer to the Sun 
C)  narrower and farther from the Sun 
D)  wider and farther from the Sun

Question 17

Over the past decade, the north polar ice cap has shrunk by approximately

Accepted Answer

A)  50 % 
B)  1 % 
C)  20 % 
D)  5 % 
A)  50 % 
B)  1 % 
C)  20 % 
D)  5 %

Question 18

What is the name of the Japanese orbiter sent to Venus in 2010?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hayabusa 
B)  Benihana 
C)  Akatsuki 
D)  Viinasu 
A)  Hayabusa 
B)  Benihana 
C)  Akatsuki 
D)  Viinasu

Question 19

A star more luminous than our Sun will have a habitable zone that is

Accepted Answer

A)  narrower and farther from the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
B)  narrower and closer to the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
C)  wider and farther from the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
D)  wider and closer to the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
A)  narrower and farther from the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
B)  narrower and closer to the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
C)  wider and farther from the star than the habitable zone of the Sun 
D)  wider and closer to the star than the habitable zone of the Sun

Question 20

Which of the following factors influence the surface habitability of a planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  planetary size 
B)  distance from parent star 
C)  presence of an atmopshere 
D)  all of these 
A)  planetary size 
B)  distance from parent star 
C)  presence of an atmopshere 
D)  all of these

As global warming raises the moisture content in our atmosphere, storms will

Most of the carbon dioxide on the Earth

Most of the water that used to be present in the Venusian atmosphere

Evidence for the loss of water from the atmosphere of Venus via the action of ultraviolet light comes from the

During the last century, sea levels have risen by

The recent gradual rise in the Earth's average surface temperature is commonly referred to as

If we allow for moisture loss due to a moist greenhouse effect, the inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

If global warming causes the frozen Arctic ocean to melt, global ocean levels will not rise since

Even though low luminosity stars have narrow habitable zones and hence are less likely to have planets within these zones, they make up for this shortcoming by virtue of the fact that

As global warming continues, weather patterns will change causing

Most of the carbon dioxide on Venus

Over the past century, the largest increase in global temperatures has occurred during the last

While there is no doubt that global temperatures are increasing, it is

Europa is located outside the Sun's habitable zone and yet may be habitable. How can this be?

Compared to today, in the future, the Sun's habitable zone will be

Over the past decade, the north polar ice cap has shrunk by approximately

What is the name of the Japanese orbiter sent to Venus in 2010?

A star more luminous than our Sun will have a habitable zone that is

Which of the following factors influence the surface habitability of a planet?

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

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

Habitability Outside the Solar System

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters

Exam 10: The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

As global warming raises the moisture content in our atmosphere, storms will

Most of the carbon dioxide on the Earth

Most of the water that used to be present in the Venusian atmosphere

Evidence for the loss of water from the atmosphere of Venus via the action of ultraviolet light comes from the

During the last century, sea levels have risen by

The recent gradual rise in the Earth's average surface temperature is commonly referred to as

If we allow for moisture loss due to a moist greenhouse effect, the inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

If global warming causes the frozen Arctic ocean to melt, global ocean levels will not rise since

Even though low luminosity stars have narrow habitable zones and hence are less likely to have planets within these zones, they make up for this shortcoming by virtue of the fact that

As global warming continues, weather patterns will change causing

Most of the carbon dioxide on Venus

Over the past century, the largest increase in global temperatures has occurred during the last

While there is no doubt that global temperatures are increasing, it is

Europa is located outside the Sun's habitable zone and yet may be habitable. How can this be?

Compared to today, in the future, the Sun's habitable zone will be

Over the past decade, the north polar ice cap has shrunk by approximately

What is the name of the Japanese orbiter sent to Venus in 2010?

A star more luminous than our Sun will have a habitable zone that is

Which of the following factors influence the surface habitability of a planet?

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

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

Habitability Outside the Solar System

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters