Question 1

Over the last century, global temperatures have risen by about

Accepted Answer

A)  0.1 oC (0.2 oF) 
B)  0.8 oC (1.4 oF) 
C)  2.0 oC (3.6 oF) 
D)  3.2 oC (5.8 oF) 
A)  0.1 oC (0.2 oF) 
B)  0.8 oC (1.4 oF) 
C)  2.0 oC (3.6 oF) 
D)  3.2 oC (5.8 oF)

Question 2

When the Sun ejects its outer layer into space to become a planetary nebula, most likely the

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth will be ejected from the solar system 
B)  Earth will probably be destroyed 
C)  Earth's oceans will freeze solid 
D)  Earth will experience a runaway greenhouse effect followed by the total loss of its atmosphere 
A)  Earth will be ejected from the solar system 
B)  Earth will probably be destroyed 
C)  Earth's oceans will freeze solid 
D)  Earth will experience a runaway greenhouse effect followed by the total loss of its atmosphere

Question 3

Observations by the Venus Express orbiter have shown

Accepted Answer

A)  the presence of an actively erupting volcano on the surface 
B)  that the volcanoes on Venus have been extinct for billions of years 
C)  that lava covered most of the surface of the planet around 750 million years ago 
D)  evidence for recent volcanic lava flows occurring within the last 250,000 years 
A)  the presence of an actively erupting volcano on the surface 
B)  that the volcanoes on Venus have been extinct for billions of years 
C)  that lava covered most of the surface of the planet around 750 million years ago 
D)  evidence for recent volcanic lava flows occurring within the last 250,000 years

Question 4

When the Sun runs out of nuclear fuel and expands to become a red giant,

Accepted Answer

A)  the Earth's oceans will freeze solid 
B)  the Earth will be ejected from the solar system 
C)  the Earth will be destroyed 
D)  the Earth will experience a runaway greenhouse effect followed by the total loss of its atmosphere 
A)  the Earth's oceans will freeze solid 
B)  the Earth will be ejected from the solar system 
C)  the Earth will be destroyed 
D)  the Earth will experience a runaway greenhouse effect followed by the total loss of its atmosphere

Question 5

What is the definition of a star's habitable zone?

Accepted Answer

A)  the range of distances from the star where planets with life have been detected 
B)  the range of distances from the star where rocky planets can form 
C)  the range of distances from the star where organic molecules can be stable on the surface of a suitable planet 
D)  the range of distances from the star where liquid water can be stable on the surface of a suitable planet 
A)  the range of distances from the star where planets with life have been detected 
B)  the range of distances from the star where rocky planets can form 
C)  the range of distances from the star where organic molecules can be stable on the surface of a suitable planet 
D)  the range of distances from the star where liquid water can be stable on the surface of a suitable planet

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

If we allow for a simple runaway greenhouse effect, the inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

The term "global warming" refers to an increase in the average temperature

Accepted Answer

A)  at the poles 
B)  at the equator 
C)  of the ozone layer 
D)  of the planet as a whole 
A)  at the poles 
B)  at the equator 
C)  of the ozone layer 
D)  of the planet as a whole

Question 9

Stars much less luminous than the Sun have

Accepted Answer

A)  wider habitable zones, increasing the odds of finding habitable planets and much longer lifetimes allowing life to appear and evolve 
B)  wider habitable zones, increasing the odds of finding habitable planets but lifetimes too short for life to appear 
C)  narrower habitable zones, decreasing the odds of finding habitable planets and lifetimes too short for life to appear 
D)  narrower habitable zones, decreasing the odds of finding habitable planets but much longer lifetimes allowing life to appear and evolve 
A)  wider habitable zones, increasing the odds of finding habitable planets and much longer lifetimes allowing life to appear and evolve 
B)  wider habitable zones, increasing the odds of finding habitable planets but lifetimes too short for life to appear 
C)  narrower habitable zones, decreasing the odds of finding habitable planets and lifetimes too short for life to appear 
D)  narrower habitable zones, decreasing the odds of finding habitable planets but much longer lifetimes allowing life to appear and evolve

Question 10

Venus is located

Accepted Answer

A)  near the outer border of the Sun's Habitable zone 
B)  within the Sun's habitable zone 
C)  near the outer border of the Sun's habitable zone 
D)  outside the Sun's habitable zone 
A)  near the outer border of the Sun's Habitable zone 
B)  within the Sun's habitable zone 
C)  near the outer border of the Sun's habitable zone 
D)  outside the Sun's habitable zone

Question 11

As the average surface temperature of the Earth rises, the Northern hemisphere of the Earth is warming more rapidly than the Southern hemisphere because

Accepted Answer

A)  the Northern hemisphere contains more landmass which more readily absorbs solar radiation 
B)  during summer in the Northern hemisphere, the Earth is closer to the Sun 
C)  there is less ice in Arctic regions compared to the Antarctic regions so less radiation is reflected out into space 
D)  there are more clouds in the Southern hemisphere to reflect solar radiation out into space 
A)  the Northern hemisphere contains more landmass which more readily absorbs solar radiation 
B)  during summer in the Northern hemisphere, the Earth is closer to the Sun 
C)  there is less ice in Arctic regions compared to the Antarctic regions so less radiation is reflected out into space 
D)  there are more clouds in the Southern hemisphere to reflect solar radiation out into space

Question 12

When the Sun becomes a red giant

Accepted Answer

A)  some life on Earth may still be able to survive on the surface 
B)  life will probably not be able to survive even beneath the surface 
C)  life may still be able to survive in the atmosphere 
D)  the Earth will be destroyed 
A)  some life on Earth may still be able to survive on the surface 
B)  life will probably not be able to survive even beneath the surface 
C)  life may still be able to survive in the atmosphere 
D)  the Earth will be destroyed

Question 13

Rising sea levels in the future will be linked mostly to the melting of

Accepted Answer

A)  the Greenland ice cap only 
B)  the Antarctic ice cap only 
C)  the north polar ice cap 
D)  both the Antarctic and Greenland ice caps 
A)  the Greenland ice cap only 
B)  the Antarctic ice cap only 
C)  the north polar ice cap 
D)  both the Antarctic and Greenland ice caps

Question 14

If we allow for a planet with an atmosphere lacking greenhouse gases or dust, the outer boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

Accepted Answer

A)  at exactly the current orbital distance of Mars 
B)  well beyond the orbital distance of Mars 
C)  roughly halfway between the orbits of the Earth and Mars 
D)  just inside the orbit of Mars 
A)  at exactly the current orbital distance of Mars 
B)  well beyond the orbital distance of Mars 
C)  roughly halfway between the orbits of the Earth and Mars 
D)  just inside the orbit of Mars

Question 15

If life is present on Venus today, it will most likely be

Accepted Answer

A)  inside large rocks that are protected from the heat 
B)  found in the atmosphere where droplets of water can be found 
C)  endoliths living beneath the crust where liquid water may still be present 
D)  hyperthermaphiles found on the surface 
A)  inside large rocks that are protected from the heat 
B)  found in the atmosphere where droplets of water can be found 
C)  endoliths living beneath the crust where liquid water may still be present 
D)  hyperthermaphiles found on the surface

Question 16

Measurements of carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere over the past 400,000 years show

Accepted Answer

A)  an indirect correlation with global surface temperatures 
B)  a direct correlation with global surface temperatures, only over the past century 
C)  no correlation with global surface temperatures 
D)  a direct correlation with global surface temperatures 
A)  an indirect correlation with global surface temperatures 
B)  a direct correlation with global surface temperatures, only over the past century 
C)  no correlation with global surface temperatures 
D)  a direct correlation with global surface temperatures

Question 17

Which of the following statements regarding the determination of surface habitability and subsurface habitability of a planet is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  both surface and subsurface habitability can be determined only from robotic space probes 
B)  surface habitability can be determined remotely by studying reflected starlight from a planet, while determining subsurface habitability would require a robotic space probe 
C)  both surface and subsurface habitability can be determined by analyzing reflected starlight 
D)  subsurface habitability can be determined remotely by studying reflected starlight from a planet, while determining surface habitability would require a robotic space probe 
A)  both surface and subsurface habitability can be determined only from robotic space probes 
B)  surface habitability can be determined remotely by studying reflected starlight from a planet, while determining subsurface habitability would require a robotic space probe 
C)  both surface and subsurface habitability can be determined by analyzing reflected starlight 
D)  subsurface habitability can be determined remotely by studying reflected starlight from a planet, while determining surface habitability would require a robotic space probe

Question 18

The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration

Accepted Answer

A)  is higher than it has been at any time during the last million years 
B)  is higher than it has been at any time during the Earth's history 
C)  has remained roughly constant during the last million years 
D)  is lower than it has been at any time during the last million years 
A)  is higher than it has been at any time during the last million years 
B)  is higher than it has been at any time during the Earth's history 
C)  has remained roughly constant during the last million years 
D)  is lower than it has been at any time during the last million years

Question 19

When the Sun was younger, how did its habitable zone compare with its habitable zone today?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

If we allow for a planet with a thick atmosphere and a strong greenhouse effect, the outer boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

Accepted Answer

A)  at exactly the current orbital distance of Mars 
B)  well beyond the orbital distance of Mars 
C)  roughly halfway between the orbits of the Earth and Mars 
D)  just inside the orbit of Mars 
A)  at exactly the current orbital distance of Mars 
B)  well beyond the orbital distance of Mars 
C)  roughly halfway between the orbits of the Earth and Mars 
D)  just inside the orbit of Mars

Over the last century, global temperatures have risen by about

When the Sun ejects its outer layer into space to become a planetary nebula, most likely the

Observations by the Venus Express orbiter have shown

When the Sun runs out of nuclear fuel and expands to become a red giant,

What is the definition of a star's habitable zone?

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

If we allow for a simple runaway greenhouse effect, the inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

The term "global warming" refers to an increase in the average temperature

Stars much less luminous than the Sun have

Venus is located

As the average surface temperature of the Earth rises, the Northern hemisphere of the Earth is warming more rapidly than the Southern hemisphere because

When the Sun becomes a red giant

Rising sea levels in the future will be linked mostly to the melting of

If we allow for a planet with an atmosphere lacking greenhouse gases or dust, the outer boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

If life is present on Venus today, it will most likely be

Measurements of carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere over the past 400,000 years show

Which of the following statements regarding the determination of surface habitability and subsurface habitability of a planet is correct?

The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration

When the Sun was younger, how did its habitable zone compare with its habitable zone today?

If we allow for a planet with a thick atmosphere and a strong greenhouse effect, the outer boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

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

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Exam 10: The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Over the last century, global temperatures have risen by about

When the Sun ejects its outer layer into space to become a planetary nebula, most likely the

Observations by the Venus Express orbiter have shown

When the Sun runs out of nuclear fuel and expands to become a red giant,

What is the definition of a star's habitable zone?

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

If we allow for a simple runaway greenhouse effect, the inner boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

The term "global warming" refers to an increase in the average temperature

Stars much less luminous than the Sun have

Venus is located

As the average surface temperature of the Earth rises, the Northern hemisphere of the Earth is warming more rapidly than the Southern hemisphere because

When the Sun becomes a red giant

Rising sea levels in the future will be linked mostly to the melting of

If we allow for a planet with an atmosphere lacking greenhouse gases or dust, the outer boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

If life is present on Venus today, it will most likely be

Measurements of carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere over the past 400,000 years show

Which of the following statements regarding the determination of surface habitability and subsurface habitability of a planet is correct?

The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration

When the Sun was younger, how did its habitable zone compare with its habitable zone today?

If we allow for a planet with a thick atmosphere and a strong greenhouse effect, the outer boundary of the Sun's habitable zone would be

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