- 1. Worlds In Collision is a controversial book written by the psychiatrist and author Immanuel Velikovsky, first published in 1950. In this provocative work, Velikovsky presents a series of radical hypotheses that challenge conventional scientific views of history, astronomy, and geology. He posits that the planets, particularly Venus and Mars, have experienced catastrophic interactions with Earth and have undergone dramatic orbital changes that have influenced human history. Velikovsky draws upon a variety of ancient texts, myths, and religious writings, suggesting that many of these narratives reflect real historical events that were the result of these cosmic collisions. He claims that these events were not only responsible for numerous natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, but also for the formation of various cultural myths across civilizations. Despite its ambitious scope, the book was met with fierce criticism from the scientific community, which dismissed Velikovsky's theories as pseudoscientific. Nonetheless, Worlds In Collision has intrigued many readers and has inspired a loyal following, leading to ongoing debates about the relationship between science, history, and mythology. Velikovsky's work urges a reconsideration of humanity's place in the cosmos and challenges the enduring narrative of a stable and unchanging universe.
What is the central thesis of 'Worlds in Collision'?
A) The solar system has always been stable
B) Evolution occurs through gradual natural selection
C) Catastrophic close encounters between planets shaped human history
D) Ancient civilizations had advanced space travel
- 2. Which planet does Velikovsky claim had a close encounter with Earth in historical times?
A) Jupiter
B) Saturn
C) Venus
D) Mars
- 3. According to Velikovsky, where did Venus originate?
A) Ejected from Jupiter
B) Captured from another star system
C) Always in its current orbit
D) Formed near Mercury
- 4. How did the scientific community generally receive Velikovsky's book?
A) With widespread acceptance
B) With complete indifference
C) As proven fact
D) With strong criticism and rejection
- 5. Which publisher initially released 'Worlds in Collision'?
A) Penguin
B) Harvard University Press
C) Oxford University Press
D) Macmillan
- 6. What year was 'Worlds in Collision' first published?
A) 1950
B) 1960
C) 1935
D) 1945
- 7. What did Velikovsky predict about Venus's temperature?
A) It would be Earth-like
B) It would be extremely hot
C) It would have no atmosphere
D) It would be extremely cold
- 8. Which ancient civilization's records does Velikovsky extensively use?
A) Roman
B) Mayan
C) Egyptian
D) Chinese
- 9. How does Velikovsky explain the manna in the Exodus story?
A) As edible material from Venus's atmosphere
B) As a type of desert plant
C) As stored grain
D) As a miraculous creation
- 10. Which scientific principle does Velikovsky's theory most directly challenge?
A) Quantum mechanics
B) Relativity
C) Uniformitarianism
D) Evolution
- 11. How does Velikovsky explain the global flood stories?
A) As melting glaciers
B) As purely local events
C) As caused by planetary disturbances
D) As symbolic myths
- 12. What was the main criticism from astronomers about Velikovsky's theory?
A) It ignored ancient texts
B) It was politically motivated
C) It was too mathematical
D) It violated laws of physics
- 13. What ancient event does Velikovsky attribute to cosmic catastrophes?
A) The Black Death
B) The fall of Rome
C) The Exodus plagues
D) The Trojan War
- 14. Which famous astronomer was among Velikovsky's most vocal critics?
A) Isaac Newton
B) Carl Sagan
C) Edwin Hubble
D) Harlow Shapley
- 15. What did critics say about Velikovsky's use of historical sources?
A) He forged documents
B) He ignored them completely
C) He took them too literally
D) He only used biblical sources
- 16. Which calendar change does Velikovsky attribute to cosmic events?
A) Julian to Gregorian
B) 360-day to 365-day year
C) Lunar to solar
D) Babylonian to Egyptian
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