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

Astronomy is...

A science, which means it is based on theories that are proven to be 100% correct and can never be disputed.
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.

Question 2

Orion is...

A constellation.
A galaxy.
An asterism.

Question 3

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 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.
The hypothesis whose predictions have been verified in experiments is the correct one.

Question 4

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

Question 5

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

12
24
13

Question 6

"All my friends believe in astrology. Clearly, it must be true!" This is an example of...

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

Question 7

What is stellar parallax?

The phenomenon where stars close to us appear to move relative to the fixed stars farther away from us throughout the year.
The phenomenon where all stars appear to move together in the sky throughout the year.
The phenomenon where stars far from us appear to move relative to the fixed stars closer to us throughout the year.

Question 8

One full rotation of the Earth around its axis corresponds to...

A month.
A day.
A year.

Question 9

What was Ptolemy's important text on astrology?

Almagest.
Enuma Anu Enlil.
The Tetrabiblos.

Question 10

In science, what is a theory?

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

Question 11

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

Latitude 40° S, longitude 20° E
Latitude 20° S, longitude 40° E
Latitude 20° E, longitude 40° S

Question 12

Which supercluster does the Milky Way belong to?

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

Question 13

Which of the following numbers is the smallest?

9 × 10⁴
4 × 10⁵
5 × 10⁶

Question 14

Ptolemy's model...

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

Question 15

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

They use ancient wisdom that has been preserved since the time of the Babylonians.
They make the horoscope generic enough that it will automatically match anyone who reads it.
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.

Question 16

Are lab experiments a very important aspect of astronomy?

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

Question 17

When a planet is in retrograde...

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

Question 18

Ptolemy's geocentric model lacked predictive value because...

It was only able to explain the complicated motions of the planets using an equally complicated model.
It was only able to explain the motions of the planets, but not the motions of the Sun and the Moon.
It was only able to explain the complicated motions of the planets using a simple model.

Question 19

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

Squares.
Epicycles.
Ellipses.

Question 20

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

The astrology can accurately predict an individual's personality traits.
The astrology cannot 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 21

Which planet's orbits are larger than the Earth's orbit?

Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Mercury and Venus.

Question 22

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

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

Question 23

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

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

Question 24

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 25

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

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