Practice Test

Please solve the following questions. This is not a real exam, it will not be graded, and you do not need to submit your solutions to anyone. The questions are simply intended to help you practice for the real exam.

These questions will not appear in the exam itself. Students who don't genuinely attempt to solve the questions on their own, and only memorize the solutions, will have a very hard time in the actual exam!

This sample exam is online, but the real exam will be given in person, at a time and place indicated on the course website.

THIS IS NOT THE ACTUAL EXAM!
THIS IS JUST A PRACTICE EXAM!
THE REAL EXAM IS IN PERSON!

If you need any clarifications for these questions, you can ask for them on the course Teams channel.

Question 1

"Last year, when Mars was in retrograde, I broke my arm. Clearly, there must be a connection!" This is an example of...

The appeal to popularity fallacy.
The appeal to tradition fallacy.
The correlation implies causation fallacy.

Question 2

Which of the following numbers is the smallest?

5 × 10⁶
9 × 10⁴
4 × 10⁵

Question 3

When a planet is in retrograde...

It is moving backwards in its orbit.
The Earth is passing by it and temporarily moving faster than it.
You should not start any new relationships.

Question 4

Are lab experiments a very important aspect of astronomy?

They used to be in ancient times, but not anymore.
No.
Yes.

Question 5

Did the Greeks believe that the Earth was at the center of the universe?

Yes, because they did not observe stellar parallax.
Yes, because they observed stellar parallax.
No, because they did not observe stellar parallax.

Question 6

In science, what is a hypothesis?

An idea that has not yet been tested.
An idea that has been rigorously tested and is correct to the best of our current knowledge.
An idea that is 100% correct and will never be replaced.

Question 7

When was stellar parallax first measured successfully?

By the ancient Greeks, around 2,000 years ago.
By Friedrich Bessel, in 1838.
By the Babylonians, around 4,000 years ago.

Question 8

Astronomy is...

A pseudo-science, which means it claims to be a science but does not use the scientific method to test the validity of hypotheses.
A science, which means it uses the scientific method to test the validity of hypotheses.
A science, which means it is based on theories that are proven to be 100% correct and can never be disputed.

Question 9

Which supercluster does the Milky Way belong to?

The Pisces Supercluster.
The Virgo Supercluster.
The Leo Supercluster.

Question 10

Orion is...

An asterism.
A galaxy.
A constellation.

Question 11

The orbits of the planets in Ptolemy's model are...

Squares.
Epicycles.
Ellipses.

Question 12

Which planet's orbits are between the Sun and the Earth?

Venus and Mars.
Mercury and Venus.
Mercury and Mars.

Question 13

A radio message was sent in 2150 from Earth to the distant planet Wolf 359 c, approximately 8 light-years away. When will the message get to the other planet? (Remember: radio waves travel at the speed of light.)

In the year 2158.
In the year 2150.
In the year 2160.

Question 14

Two scientists have published competing hypotheses. Since they contradict each other, only one can be correct. How will we determine which hypothesis is correct?

The hypothesis whose predictions have been verified in experiments is the correct one.
The hypothesis from the scientist with a PhD from the more prestigious university is the correct one.
The hypothesis that is easier to understand is the correct one.

Question 15

Which of the following is a reliable source of information about astronomy?

The website for the James Webb Space Telescope, a space telescope operated by NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and the European Space Agency.
Any YouTube channel that has "astronomy" in the title.
Social media posts.

Question 16

Ptolemy's model...

Is still used by astronomers today due to its simplicity.
Is still used by astronomers today due to its accuracy.
Is not used by astronomers today due to its inaccuracy.

Question 17

What was Ptolemy's important text on astrology?

Enuma Anu Enlil.
Almagest.
The Tetrabiblos.

Question 18

A celestial object which cannot produce its own light is...

A star.
A planet.
Either a star or a planet.

Question 19

I am located 20 degrees north of the equator and 40 degrees west of the Prime Meridian. What are my coordinates?

Latitude 40° S, longitude 20° E.
Latitude 20° N, longitude 40° W.
Latitude 20° W, longitude 40° N.

Question 20

How many constellations does the Sun appear to pass through over the course of a year?

24
12
13

Question 21

What is Occam's razor?

The principle that says simpler theories are easier to understand than complex ones, and therefore should be preferred.
The principle that says complex theories have more predictive value than simpler ones, and therefore should be preferred.
The principle that says simpler theories have more predictive value than complex ones, and therefore should be preferred.

Question 22

One full rotation of the Earth around the Sun corresponds to...

A day.
A month.
A year.

Question 23

What did Dean and Kelly's 2003 review of 40 astrology experiments conclude?

The astrology cannot accurately predict an individual's personality traits.
The astrology can accurately predict an individual's personality traits.
The astrology can accurately predict an individual's personality traits, but only if that person believes in astrology.

Question 24

I am in the north pole. What is directly above me?

The celestial equator.
The south celestial pole.
The north celestial pole.

Question 25

What tools do astrologers use to ensure that horoscopes correctly match each sign?

They make the horoscope generic enough that it will automatically match anyone who reads it.
They use ancient wisdom that has been preserved since the time of the Babylonians.
They carefully study the forces acting on us from the planets of the solar system, and deduce how our lives will be affected by them.