Question 1

Why was the Martian meteorite ALH84001 singled out for intense study?

Accepted Answer

A)  it is the only Martian meteorite that has even been discovered 
B)  the meteorite appeared to be giving off methane gas 
C)  it is a very young rock originating from the Tharsis region 
D)  it is a very old rock, dating back from the time when Mars probably had liquid water on its surface 
A)  it is the only Martian meteorite that has even been discovered 
B)  the meteorite appeared to be giving off methane gas 
C)  it is a very young rock originating from the Tharsis region 
D)  it is a very old rock, dating back from the time when Mars probably had liquid water on its surface D

Question 2

The residual polar caps on Mars are made of

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

Evidence for very recent water erosion on Mars comes from the observations of

Accepted Answer

A)  gullies in the rims of craters 
B)  channels carved on the slopes of volcanoes 
C)  dried up river beds on the highlands 
D)  mud flows surrounding craters 
A)  gullies in the rims of craters 
B)  channels carved on the slopes of volcanoes 
C)  dried up river beds on the highlands 
D)  mud flows surrounding craters A

Question 4

The Martian meteorite ALH84001 was found in the

Accepted Answer

A)  Yucatan 
B)  Antarctic 
C)  Arizona desert 
D)  Arctic 
A)  Yucatan 
B)  Antarctic 
C)  Arizona desert 
D)  Arctic

Question 5

What is the most significant drawback of possibly sending humans to Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  the fact that there would be no possible source of water on the surface 
B)  the high probability of contamination of the Martian surface by microbes associated with human beings 
C)  the high probability of Martian microbes contamination of contaminating the crew 
D)  the fact that astronauts could not breathe in the Martian atmosphere 
A)  the fact that there would be no possible source of water on the surface 
B)  the high probability of contamination of the Martian surface by microbes associated with human beings 
C)  the high probability of Martian microbes contamination of contaminating the crew 
D)  the fact that astronauts could not breathe in the Martian atmosphere

Question 6

Results from the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity suggest that liquid water

Accepted Answer

A)  has never existed in significant quantities on the surface of Mars 
B)  was once plentiful on the surface of Mars 
C)  is only present in the Tharsis region of Mars 
D)  is present in large quantities beneath the Martian surface today 
A)  has never existed in significant quantities on the surface of Mars 
B)  was once plentiful on the surface of Mars 
C)  is only present in the Tharsis region of Mars 
D)  is present in large quantities beneath the Martian surface today

Question 7

Why is the possible contamination of the Earth by Martian microbes in a future sample return mission not considered to be a significant problem?

Accepted Answer

A)  Martian microbes will certainly be destroyed by terrestrial microbes 
B)  any Martian microbes will be destroyed by high-energy particles and radiation on their trip back to Earth 
C)  Martian microbes will be rapidly destroyed by oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere 
D)  Martian microbes are likely to be quite different than terrestrial microbes and, hence, will probably not be able to affect life on Earth 
A)  Martian microbes will certainly be destroyed by terrestrial microbes 
B)  any Martian microbes will be destroyed by high-energy particles and radiation on their trip back to Earth 
C)  Martian microbes will be rapidly destroyed by oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere 
D)  Martian microbes are likely to be quite different than terrestrial microbes and, hence, will probably not be able to affect life on Earth

Question 8

The Phoenix spacecraft which landed in the Martian arctic in 2008 found

Accepted Answer

A)  water ice on the surface 
B)  no water ice either on or below the surface 
C)  water ice just beneath the surface 
D)  water ice several feet beneath the surface 
A)  water ice on the surface 
B)  no water ice either on or below the surface 
C)  water ice just beneath the surface 
D)  water ice several feet beneath the surface

Question 9

The Meridani Plains were chosen as the landing site for the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity because

Accepted Answer

A)  we believe this region was once filled with water 
B)  remote sensing measurements from the Mars Odyssey orbiter indicate that larger than average deposits of water ice are present beneath the surface 
C)  of its proximity to the Tharsis region 
D)  remote sensing measurements from the Mars Odyssey orbiter indicate that deposits of the mineral hematite (which commonly forms in water) are present 
A)  we believe this region was once filled with water 
B)  remote sensing measurements from the Mars Odyssey orbiter indicate that larger than average deposits of water ice are present beneath the surface 
C)  of its proximity to the Tharsis region 
D)  remote sensing measurements from the Mars Odyssey orbiter indicate that deposits of the mineral hematite (which commonly forms in water) are present

Question 10

Recent data suggest that the most important contribution to the thinning of the Martian atmosphere was probably

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 as its magnetic field weakened 
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 as its magnetic field weakened 
C)  the consumption of carbon dioxide by photosynthetic bacteria 
D)  atmospheric gases being blasted into space by large impacts

Question 11

If melted, the ice now known to be on Mars would represent water to cover the entire planet to a depth of

Accepted Answer

A)  around 11 meters 
B)  a few centimeters 
C)  several kilometers 
D)  less than a millimeter 
A)  around 11 meters 
B)  a few centimeters 
C)  several kilometers 
D)  less than a millimeter

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

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 14

Which of the following statements best describes the idea behind the Carbon Assimilation Experiment on board the Viking landers?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

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 16

Spacecraft orbiting Mars have detected hydrated minerals, such as clays, sulfates, and silica, which are known to contain

Accepted Answer

A)  water or hydroxide (OH) 
B)  hydrogen carbonates 
C)  hydrogen gas 
D)  oxygen 
A)  water or hydroxide (OH) 
B)  hydrogen carbonates 
C)  hydrogen gas 
D)  oxygen

Question 17

Significant quantities of water last flowed on the surface of Mars during which geological era?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

Which of the following statements is an overall summary of the findings from the Viking biology experiments?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Martial soil showed no signs of chemical or biological activity 
B)  the Martian soil showed clear signs of biological activity 
C)  the Martian soil was chemically reactive but showed no conclusive signs of biological activity 
D)  the Martian soil contained organic molecules but showed no signs of biological activity 
A)  the Martial soil showed no signs of chemical or biological activity 
B)  the Martian soil showed clear signs of biological activity 
C)  the Martian soil was chemically reactive but showed no conclusive signs of biological activity 
D)  the Martian soil contained organic molecules but showed no signs of biological activity

Question 19

The seasonal variations experienced on the Earth are due

Accepted Answer

A)  only to its changing distance from the Sun 
B)  mostly to its axis tilt 
C)  to small changes in the amount of energy emitted by the Sun 
D)  to both its axis tilt and its changing distance from the Sun 
A)  only to its changing distance from the Sun 
B)  mostly to its axis tilt 
C)  to small changes in the amount of energy emitted by the Sun 
D)  to both its axis tilt and its changing distance from the Sun

Question 20

Which of the following statements best describes the idea behind the Gas Exchange Experiment on board the Viking landers?

Accepted Answer

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

Why was the Martian meteorite ALH84001 singled out for intense study?

The residual polar caps on Mars are made of

Evidence for very recent water erosion on Mars comes from the observations of

The Martian meteorite ALH84001 was found in the

What is the most significant drawback of possibly sending humans to Mars?

Results from the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity suggest that liquid water

Why is the possible contamination of the Earth by Martian microbes in a future sample return mission not considered to be a significant problem?

The Phoenix spacecraft which landed in the Martian arctic in 2008 found

The Meridani Plains were chosen as the landing site for the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity because

Recent data suggest that the most important contribution to the thinning of the Martian atmosphere was probably

If melted, the ice now known to be on Mars would represent water to cover the entire planet to a depth of

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

The Southern hemisphere of Mars is at

Which of the following statements best describes the idea behind the Carbon Assimilation Experiment on board the Viking landers?

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

Spacecraft orbiting Mars have detected hydrated minerals, such as clays, sulfates, and silica, which are known to contain

Significant quantities of water last flowed on the surface of Mars during which geological era?

Which of the following statements is an overall summary of the findings from the Viking biology experiments?

The seasonal variations experienced on the Earth are due

Which of the following statements best describes the idea behind the Gas Exchange Experiment on board the Viking landers?

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

Habitability Outside the Solar System

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

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Exam 8: Mars

Why was the Martian meteorite ALH84001 singled out for intense study?

The residual polar caps on Mars are made of

Evidence for very recent water erosion on Mars comes from the observations of

The Martian meteorite ALH84001 was found in the

What is the most significant drawback of possibly sending humans to Mars?

Results from the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity suggest that liquid water

Why is the possible contamination of the Earth by Martian microbes in a future sample return mission not considered to be a significant problem?

The Phoenix spacecraft which landed in the Martian arctic in 2008 found

The Meridani Plains were chosen as the landing site for the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity because

Recent data suggest that the most important contribution to the thinning of the Martian atmosphere was probably

If melted, the ice now known to be on Mars would represent water to cover the entire planet to a depth of

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

The Southern hemisphere of Mars is at

Which of the following statements best describes the idea behind the Carbon Assimilation Experiment on board the Viking landers?

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

Spacecraft orbiting Mars have detected hydrated minerals, such as clays, sulfates, and silica, which are known to contain

Significant quantities of water last flowed on the surface of Mars during which geological era?

Which of the following statements is an overall summary of the findings from the Viking biology experiments?

The seasonal variations experienced on the Earth are due

Which of the following statements best describes the idea behind the Gas Exchange Experiment on board the Viking landers?

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

Habitability Outside the Solar System

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters