TASK DEFINITION: You are given a passage. You need to construct a question about the information present in the passage. Construct a question in such a way that (i) it is unambiguous, (ii) its answer is the whole paragraph. Avoid creating questions that can be answered correctly without actually understanding the paragraph.
PROBLEM: # A form of granite, but having the component materials, especially the mica, arranged in planes so that it breaks rather easily into coarse slabs or flags.
http://www.zulumoon.com/glossary/G-glossary.htm

# a laminated metamorphic rock similar to granite
http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

# Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high grade regional metamorphic processes from preexisting formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks. Gneissic rocks are coarsely laminated and largely recrystallized but do not carry large quantities of micas, chlorite or other platy minerals. Gneisses that are metamorphosed igneous rocks or their equivalent are termed granite gneisses, diorite gneisses, etc. ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gneiss

SOLUTION: what is gneiss?

PROBLEM: Answers to this question can vary greatly, but a good framework to think about it is the Drake Equation. Developed by Frank Drake and Carl Sagan, it runs through some of the key factors that will effect the viability of life on other planets. As we learn more about extrasolar planets and astrobiology, we are getting better limits on some of the parameters in the equation, but especially when it comes to the terms where we look for intelligent life that can last long enough to contact other species, we have very little data to go on.

So when it comes down to the last few terms you need to take it all with a grain of salt.

If you are simply talking about life, I think recent discoveries have made the likelihood very high. The discovery of many extrasolar planets including some that are closer to Earth size means that there are specific places we can point to where life may have formed or be forming. Even in stranger systems that feature planets several times Jupiter's mass, it is possible that a terrestrial satellite of such a large planet could harbor the right conditions for life.

It's a fun thing to work through the Drake equation yourself. Since the last few terms are more subjective (at least until we get more data), it's fun to play with it and see where you stand.

The best guess that scientists have put forward right now is:

N = 10 0.5 2 0.33 110-7 0.01 67 = 2.21110-7 = 0.0000002211

where N is the number of intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations that might come to communicate with us in a year.

To get the number of planets that reach a point of harboring life (not intelligent) in a year, we just take the first 4 terms:

10 0.5 2 0.33 = 3.3

So about 3.3 new planets reach the point where life forms per year.

SOLUTION: What are the odds of life on another planet?

PROBLEM: In 1970, the best seller was Love Story by Erich Segal which was made into a movie the same year. An interesting tidbit: Erich Segal actually wrote the screenplay first, then adapted it to a novel.

In 1976, the book that made it to the top was Trinity by Leon Uris about Ireland's struggle for independence.

For the whole list of best sellers throughout the 70's go to http://www.waukesha.lib.wi.us/ra/fbestsell.shtml.

Hope this helps

SOLUTION:
What were the books on the best seller list in 1970 and 1976?