View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is the Vicar of Bray theory flawed?

2. Through sexual reproduction, what are offspring dealt?

3. According to the author and other research, who should have a better evolutionary outcome?

4. What kind of study does evolution become?

5. What is one way of good gene replication that the author mentions?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the lottery theory?

2. What does sexual reproduction mostly consist of?

3. When is it even more important for a female to find a good mate?

4. Why is the history of evolution a never ending arms race?

5. What does the sexy sons theory say?

6. After the Vicar of Bray theory, what did scientists try to prove?

7. Why are out law genes interesting?

8. What is interesting about the mating skills of the Australian bush turkeys?

9. What does the Martian visitor that observes Earth wonder about?

10. What secondary quality do men look for in women?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the different tones that Ridley uses throughout the novel. Point out specific tones in different sections. Then describe why the tone works best for that section.

Essay Topic 2

Why does natural selection take a back seat to sexual selection in Ridley's opinion? How do natural selection traits actually become sexual selection traits?

Essay Topic 3

Why has sexual intercourse become a private matter among many humans? Is this a societal constraint that we have imposed on ourselves? Or, is it something that was biologically programmed into us? How does this aspect make us different from other species?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 686 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample