01
Written response
1 point
What is the name of the group of gravitationally bound galaxies that includes the Milky Way?
Free Practice Quiz Question List
09 Galaxies and Their Evolution Online Quiz Questions
Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 09 Galaxies and Their Evolution, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.
20 questions
02
Choose one
1 point
Astronomers observe a galaxy with a disk and central bulge but no prominent spiral arms. Which classification best fits its visible shape?
- A
An elliptical galaxy
- B
A lenticular galaxy
- C
An irregular galaxy
- D
A spiral galaxy
03
True or false
1 point
True or false: Galaxy classifications by shape describe a single evolutionary sequence that every galaxy follows.
- A
True
- B
False
04
Fill in the blank
1 point
In the cosmic web, vast regions containing relatively few galaxies are called .
05
Choose one
1 point
What powers the exceptionally energetic central region of an active galactic nucleus (AGN)?
- A
Nuclear reactions throughout the host galaxy
- B
The collision of stars in the galaxy's center
- C
Matter falling toward a supermassive black hole
- D
The expansion of the galaxy's outer disk
06
Written response
1 point
Seyfert galaxies, quasars, and blazars are all observed forms of what kind of galactic object?
07
True or false
1 point
True or false: Superclusters are generally bound together as single systems by gravity.
- A
True
- B
False
08
Fill in the blank
1 point
Before some infalling material crosses a supermassive black hole's event horizon, it forms a hot that radiates across the electromagnetic spectrum.
09
Choose all
1 point
Select all effects that jets and winds from an active galactic nucleus can have on its host galaxy.
- A
Heat gas in the host galaxy
- B
Expel gas from the host galaxy
- C
Reduce the supply of cool material available for star formation
- D
Always permanently stop all star formation
- E
Create prominent spiral arms in every host galaxy
10
Choose all
1 point
Select all statements that describe processes involved in galaxy formation and growth.
- A
Dark matter halos helped attract ordinary matter, especially gas.
- B
Galaxies grew through the addition of gas and the merging of smaller systems.
- C
Every galaxy began as a spiral and followed the same later sequence.
- D
Stars formed before gas could accumulate in denser regions.
11
Choose one
1 point
A galaxy enters a crowded cluster. Which conclusion about its gas supply and star formation is best supported?
- A
Every galaxy entering a cluster immediately stops forming stars.
- B
A crowded cluster can affect a galaxy's gas supply and star formation, but the outcome is not guaranteed for every galaxy.
- C
Galaxies in clusters always retain cold gas longer than isolated galaxies.
- D
A galaxy's environment cannot affect its gas supply.
12
Open ended
1 point
A major merger can strongly disrupt a galaxy's disk. Explain why this does not mean every such merger must produce an elliptical galaxy, and describe two other possible outcomes for disks across varied galaxy histories.
13
Choose one
1 point
What viewing geometry helps explain why a blazar can appear especially bright and variable?
- A
Its jet is aimed away from Earth.
- B
Its powerful jet is aimed nearly toward Earth.
- C
It has no central supermassive black hole.
- D
Its host galaxy contains no stars.
14
Choose one
1 point
Astronomers find a gravitationally bound system containing hundreds of galaxies, along with large amounts of hot gas and dark matter. Which kind of structure best describes it?
- A
A group, because groups contain hundreds or thousands of galaxies along with hot gas and dark matter.
- B
A cluster, because clusters contain hundreds or thousands of galaxies and also hold hot gas and dark matter.
- C
A supercluster, because all such systems are single gravitationally bound structures.
- D
A void, because voids contain many galaxies concentrated together.
15
Written response
1 point
What is the name for the universe-wide pattern in which galaxies and groups trace filaments, sheets, and dense intersections separated by vast voids?
16
Choose one
1 point
A galaxy's central region is exceptionally energetic and compact. Which process supplies the power for its active galactic nucleus?
- A
Nuclear fusion in a dense cluster of stars at the galaxy's center.
- B
The direct collision of stars as they orbit a central black hole.
- C
Matter falling toward a supermassive black hole.
- D
The conversion of dark matter into light inside the galaxy's central bulge.
17
Choose one
1 point
A distant galaxy's central active region is so luminous that it can outshine the rest of its host galaxy. Which AGN form best fits this description?
- A
An extremely luminous AGN whose central light can outshine its host galaxy.
- B
A galaxy whose disk has no central bulge and contains no gas.
- C
A galaxy group held together only by the gravity of its hot gas.
- D
An AGN whose jet is necessarily directed nearly toward Earth.
18
Choose one
1 point
In the early universe, how did extended dark matter halos help galaxies begin to form?
- A
They prevented ordinary matter from collecting, so galaxies formed only from dark matter.
- B
They helped attract ordinary matter, especially gas, into denser regions where galaxies could grow.
- C
They converted already-formed stars into cold gas.
- D
They kept galaxies isolated from later gas flows and mergers.
19
True or false
1 point
A galaxy's visible shape, by itself, is enough to establish its full evolutionary history and its place in a universal sequence followed by all galaxies.
- A
True
- B
False
20
Written response
1 point
During a merger of two galaxies, stars usually pass without directly colliding. What physical fact explains why? Enter the reason as a short phrase.