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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Dodgson tells the head of Biosyn that there could be a lucrative market in selling dinosaurs. To whom does Dodgson suggest selling them?
(a) Universities.
(b) Enthusiasts.
(c) Hunters.
(d) Zoos.

2. Where does the Costa Rican government assume that the aberrant animals are coming from?
(a) The grasslands.
(b) The desert.
(c) The jungle.
(d) The islands.

3. According to Malcolm's speech, how many species of plants and animals have existed on the planet since life began?
(a) 30 billion.
(b) 50 billion.
(c) 70 billion.
(d) 10 billion.

4. According to Malcolm's speech, how many species of plants and animals are currently on the planet?
(a) 50 million.
(b) 70 million.
(c) 30 million.
(d) 10 million.

5. According to Malcolm, animals living and dying against a very active background of our planet accounts for what percentage of extinction?
(a) 84%.
(b) 97%.
(c) 75%.
(d) 90%.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Malcolm, what are complex animals able to insulate themselves against?

2. What is the name of the man hired by Biosyn to help the company clean up its image?

3. How much is the Biosyn spy being paid to spy on the people who had been involved with the InGen project?

4. When are the high levels of iridium at the K-T boundary discovered?

5. Before receiving the call regarding the animal carcass in Costa Rica, where is Levine working?

Short Essay Questions

1. The head of Biosyn dislikes Dodgson, but likes having him around. Why?

2. What is the "Edge of Chaos"?

3. Describe at least three types of systems that complexity theory has studied.

4. Why, in Malcolm's opinion, is his extinction theory untestable?

5. A statue of a raptor is outside the biology department at the university where Malcolm works. Why does Malcolm think the statue of the velociraptor is insulting to the raptor?

6. In the 1970s, why could no one answer questions regarding the fragility of the earth's ecosystem?

7. How does Malcolm handle the newscasts that report Malcolm's death in Costa Rica?

8. According to Malcolm's speech, what is the average rate of extinction on the planet?

9. What is reductionism? Is it useful in complexity theory or not?

10. Why does Guitierrez lament the changing ethics of scientists?

(see the answer keys)

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