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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. On the other hand, why might juggling have a use?

2. What did the brain do when the forelimbs were no longer used to walk?

3. How many features of the human hand does Mary Marzke identify?

4. To what do marionettes exhibit similarities?

5. What operator has to do to anticipate load weight and wind changes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Charles Bell believe about practice?

2. What are the eight features of the human hand according to Mary Marzke?

3. How were the ape and human hands compared anatomically until recently?

4. What does Wilson say about our hands and feet as we are about to waken and right after?

5. Who is George, and what does Wilson say about him?

6. What terms does John Napier use that mean essentially the same as "prehensile" and "non-prehensile" and what do the terms mean?

7. What does practice after learning do?

8. What is Wilson's "mission" with this book?

9. What is the connection between marionettes and the human muscle and tendon configuration in the arms and legs?

10. How does the touch of the pianist differ from that of the rock climber?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Donald assumes speech is a primary enabler and the outcome of evolution in 1) cognitive capacity as representational or mimetic, 2) articulating speech, and 3) neural structure. Donald summarizes his ideas with the claim that humans did not simply grow larger brains, memories and speaking equipment but rather incorporated new ways to represent reality in their bigger brains.

1. Why would Donald call speech a primary enabler of evolution? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. What do you think Donald means by cognitive capacity as representational or mimetic? cognitive capacity as representational or mimetic

3. Why would the ability to remember the past be important to hominids' survival?

Essay Topic 2

Wilson has cited a number of people in this book. Discuss he following:

1. Choose three people whom Wilson mentions positively and give a brief idea of his opinions about those three people (or stereotypes). Use examples from The Hand to support your answer.

2. Choose three people whom Wilson mentions negatively and give a brief idea of his opinions about those three people (or stereotypes). Use examples from The Hand to support your answer.

3. Judging what Wilson says about different people in his text, how would you characterize him as a friend? As a colleague? Use examples from The Hand to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Monkeys and apes evolve from quadruped--walking on four legs--to biped, which enables movement on branches and treetops. The Pliocene epoch brings the hominids with a recognizable four-finger hand and thumb exemplified by Lucy, lacking some flexibilities of a modern hand. For example Lucy can pound and throw stones accurately overhand, unlike chimps that throw only underhand. These bio mechanical hand changes are accompanied by increased brain size, social structure, communication and cooperative tool making.

1. Discuss, in depth, how bipedal locomotion gave the hominids more survival advantages over apes. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss, in depth, why it was so important about Lucy developing four fingers and a thumb? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. Give reasons why the bio mechanical hand changes helped to increase brain size. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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