The Galaxies and the Universe
Practice Test
1.
What are the oldest-known objects in the Milky Way?
a.
globular clusters
b.
active galactic nuclei
c.
dwarf ellipticals
d.
black holes
2.
Which of the galaxies shown has an elliptical shape?
a.
D
b.
B
c.
A
d.
C
3.
Why do variable stars pulsate in brightness?
a.
constant contraction
b.
expansion and contraction of their outer layers
c.
movement at a fixed rate
d.
gain in mass
4.
In the Big Bang theory, what balances the momentum of the expansion of the universe?
a.
the inward force of gravity
b.
the critical density of the universe
c.
the momentum of the galaxies
d.
the outward force of gravity
5.
Most of the mass in cluster galaxies is __________.
a.
pulsating
b.
visible
c.
invisible
d.
spinning
6.
What theory does cosmic background radiation support?
a.
the steady-state theory
b.
the inflationary universe model
c.
the theory of evolution
d.
the Big Bang theory
7.
Is the rate of the universe expansion speeding up or slowing down?
a.
It was speeding up, but now it is slowing down.
b.
It has always been speeding up.
c.
It has always been slowing down.
d.
It was slowing down, but now it is speeding up.
8.
What was the first galaxy to be discovered outside of Earth's galaxy?
a.
the Local Group
b.
the Andromeda Galaxy
c.
the Sagittarius Galaxy
d.
the Virgo
9.
What do scientists use to measure Earth's distance from globular clusters?
a.
the Milky Way
b.
the steady-state theory
c.
variable stars
d.
the Hubble constant
10.
Which of the galaxies shown has the same shape of our galaxy?
a.
C
b.
B
c.
A
d.
D
11.
Where are the youngest stars of the galaxy located?
a.
black holes
b.
spiral arms
c.
central bulge
d.
halo
12.
How did Hubble categorize galaxies?
a.
luminosity
b.
pulsating variable stars
c.
shapes
d.
distance from the Milky Way
13.
What do astronomers use to map the shape of the Milky Way?
a.
infrared rays
b.
gamma rays
c.
radio waves
d.
visible light
14.
The study of cosmology is concerned with __________.
a.
the origin of the universe
b.
the evolution of the universe
c.
all of the above
d.
the nature of the universe
15.
What is the name of the cluster that the Milky Way belongs to?
a.
the Super Group
b.
the Local Group
c.
the Virgo Group
d.
the Spiral Group
