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

What was the ancient Babylonian text on astrology called?

The Tetrabiblos.
Almagest.
Enuma Anu Enlil.

Question 2

Which supercluster does the Milky Way belong to?

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

Question 3

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

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

Question 4

Are lab experiments a very important aspect of astronomy?

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

Question 5

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.

Question 6

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

Question 7

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 experiments must have been done incorrectly, as the theory has been established beyond reasonable doubt.
The laws of nature have changed over time, and the theory must be modified in light of the new changes.

Question 8

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 all stars appear to move together in the sky 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.

Question 9

Which of the following numbers is the smallest?

9 × 10⁴
4 × 10⁵
5 × 10⁶

Question 10

Astronomy is...

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.
A pseudo-science, which means it claims to be a science but does not use the scientific method to test the validity of hypotheses.

Question 11

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 12

What is special about the constellations of the zodiac?

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

Question 13

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 14

The Greeks believed that the Earth was at the center of the universe...

Because they did not observe stellar parallax.
Because they observed stellar parallax.
Because they did not know about stellar parallax.

Question 15

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

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

Question 16

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

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

Question 17

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 18

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

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

Question 19

The Big Dipper is...

A constellation.
A planet.
An asterism.

Question 20

Which of the following is 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.
Any YouTube channel that has "astronomy" in the title.

Question 21

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

A day.
A month.
A year.

Question 22

Ptolemy's model...

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

Question 23

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

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

Question 24

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 25

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

Ellipses.
Squares.
Epicycles.