ASTR 1P01/02: Introduction to Astronomy I/II

Practice Exam

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

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

Question 2

The Big Dipper is...

A planet.
An asterism.
A constellation.

Question 3

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 is based on theories that are proven to be 100% correct and can never be disputed.
A science, which means it uses the scientific method to test the validity of hypotheses.

Question 4

The orbits of the planets in the solar system are...

Ellipses.
Epicycles.
Circles.

Question 5

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

Question 6

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

Encyclopedia Britannica.
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.

Question 7

What is special about the constellations of the zodiac?

They are the constellations that the Sun appear to pass through over the course of a year.
The stars in these constellations are closer to Earth compared to those in other constellations.
They allow astrologers to produce reliable horoscopes.

Question 8

Ptolemy's model...

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

Question 9

In science, what is a hypothesis?

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

Question 10

Which of the following numbers is the smallest?

9 × 10⁴
4 × 10⁵
5 × 10⁶

Question 11

A celestial object which can produce its own light is...

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

Question 12

What did Carlson's 1985 astrology experiment prove?

That astrologers can correctly predict a person's personality test results given the person's time and place of birth.
That astrologers cannot correctly predict a person's personality test results given the person's time and place of birth.
That astrologers cannot correctly predict a person's time and place of birth given the person's personality test results.

Question 13

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

A day.
A month.
A year.

Question 14

A radio message was sent in 2150 from Earth to the distant planet Epsilon Eridani b, approximately 10 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 15

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

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

Question 16

When a planet is in retrograde...

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

Question 17

Are lab experiments a very important aspect of astronomy?

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

Question 18

Which supercluster does the Milky Way belong to?

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

Question 19

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

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

Question 20

What is the Barnum effect?

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

Question 21

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

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

Question 22

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

Question 23

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

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

Question 24

What was Ptolemy's important text on astrology?

Almagest.
The Tetrabiblos.
Enuma Anu Enlil.

Question 25

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 simpler theories have more predictive value 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.