20091224

Astronomy final exam question: water required for life?

Astronomy 210 Final Exam, Fall Semester 2009
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Water (or some other type of liquid) should be present on a planet harboring living things, as liquids are necessary to:
(A) transport nutrients and wastes.
(B) cause erosion.
(C) start tectonic plate motion.
(D) absorb radioactivity.

Correct answer: (A)

It is plausible that any form of life would require the ready transport of materials to and from and within itself to regulate chemical processes, which would require a liquid (such as, but not necessarily exclusively water).

Section 70158
(A) : 43 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 2 students

Success level: 92% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0

1 comment:

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