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

Which of the following numbers is the largest?

9 × 10⁴
4 × 10⁵
5 × 10⁶

Question 2

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

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

Question 3

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

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

Question 4

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

Squares.
Ellipses.
Epicycles.

Question 5

A scientific theory's predictions were verified by every single experiment for 50 years. However, more recently, several new experiments, which have been peer-reviewed, failed to match the theory's predictions. What is most likely happening?

The theory is inaccurate, and must be replaced with a new one which will be consistent with both the old and new experiments.
The laws of nature have changed over time, and the theory must be modified in light of the new changes.
The experiments must have been done incorrectly, as the theory has been established beyond reasonable doubt.

Question 6

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

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

Question 7

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

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

Question 8

Are lab experiments a very important aspect of astronomy?

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

Question 9

What is the Barnum effect?

The effect that produces astrological predictions.
The cognitive bias that makes people think a horoscope describes them individually, while in fact it is intentionally vague enough to describe anyone.
The astrological phenomenon that ensures the horoscope actually describes each individual person accurately.

Question 10

What was Ptolemy's important text on astronomy?

Almagest.
The Tetrabiblos.
Enuma Anu Enlil.

Question 11

Which of the following is not a reliable source of information about astronomy?

Social media posts.
The website for the James Webb Space Telescope, a space telescope operated by NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and the European Space Agency.
Encyclopedia Britannica.

Question 12

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

12
24
13

Question 13

Astrology 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 14

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

A day.
A month.
A year.

Question 15

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

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

Question 16

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 17

Which supercluster does the Milky Way belong to?

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

Question 18

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

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

Question 19

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

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

Question 20

Ptolemy's model...

Accurately describes the structure of the solar system.
Does not accurately describe the structure of the solar system.
Accurately described the structure of the solar system in Ptolemy's time, but this structure has changed since then.

Question 21

When a planet is in retrograde...

It looks to us like it's moving backwards in its orbit, but actually it's still moving forward.
You should avoid any big investments.
It looks to us like it's still moving forward in its orbit, but actually it's moving backwards.

Question 22

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 23

The Big Dipper is...

A constellation.
A planet.
An asterism.

Question 24

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 25

What is stellar parallax?

The phenomenon where stars far from us appear to move relative to the fixed stars closer to us throughout the year.
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.