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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through The Song of the Indri.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Quammen says Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace had in common?
(a) They both studied birds.
(b) They both found hostile responses to their work.
(c) They both studied island ecosystems.
(d) They both collected insects and primates.

2. What rule governs the relationship between the size of an island and the number of species it can support?
(a) The greater the fertility of the soil, the greater the number of species.
(b) The longer the coastline the greater the number of species.
(c) The large the island, the greater the number of species.
(d) The taller the highest point on the island, the greater the number of species.

3. What is the genre of The Song of the Dodo?
(a) Fantasy.
(b) Fiction.
(c) Non-fiction.
(d) Prophecy.

4. What assertion did Frank Preston make based on his data?
(a) That a national park 'microcosm' would not be representative of wild species.
(b) That a national park could contain a microcosm of the wild species.
(c) That a national park that wanted to be a microcosm of wild species would need a large buffer zone to encourage diversity.
(d) That the earth itself is a single ecosystem, and it cannot be broken down into constituent parts without losing sight of the whole.

5. According to Jared Diamond, a nature reserve has to have what characteristics, in order to support a large number of species?
(a) Far away from human habitation.
(b) Large and near other reserves.
(c) On an island.
(d) Close to agricultural land.

Short Answer Questions

1. How would you describe Quammen's narrative of the dodo's decline and extinction?

2. How does Quammen describe the komodo dragon's territory?

3. What is Quammen really describing as he imagines the hacked up rug?

4. What is the term that encompasses David Quammen's overall idea?

5. How did the data from Krakatau match Wilson and MacArthur's predictions?

(see the answer key)

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