Mars quiz for 1/15/2024

1. What did early astronomers observe about Mars through telescopes in the 1700s?

• a. Ice cream, dust clouds, and dark streaks

• b. Ice caps, dust clouds, and dark streaks

• c. Volcanoes, oceans, and forests

• d. Deserts, mountains, and valleys

When did the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launch Mariner 4, the spacecraft that took the first close-up photographs of Mars?

• a. July 1965

• b. November 1964

• c. September 3, 1976

• d. July 19, 1976

3. What is a rover, as mentioned in the text?

• a. A human explorer on Mars

• b. A solar-powered vehicle operated by a computer

• c. A type of telescope used for observing Mars

• d. A type of spacecraft sent to gather information about Mars

Which rover was the first to land on Mars in 1997 and sent more than 500 photographs back to Earth?

• Opportunity

• Curiosity

• Sojourner

• Spirit

What did the twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity discover after landing on Mars in 2004?

• Evidence of past water on Mars

• Martian animals and plants

• Ancient civilizations on Mars

• Underground tunnels on Mars

6. When did NASA launch the large six-wheeled rover named Curiosity?

• 2004

• 1997

• 2011

• 2015

What is the main reason Mars appears red?

• a. It is covered with strawberry fields.

• b. Its surface is made of red clay.

• c. Its surface is covered with iron oxide (rust).

• d. It reflects the red light from the sun.

8. Why is the atmosphere on Mars considered a challenge for human settlement?

• a. It is too thick, making breathing difficult.

• b. It is made mostly of oxygen.

• c. It is much thinner and mostly carbon dioxide.

• d. It has too much nitrogen.

9. What is the average temperature on Mars mentioned in the text?

• a. 81°F

• b. -81°F

• c. 0°F

• d. 50°F

10. Why would a spacesuit be necessary for living on Mars according to the text?

• a. To protect against rain

• b. To keep cool in high temperatures

• c. To keep warm in the cold, windy, and dusty conditions

• d. To provide oxygen for breathing (which is probably also true!)