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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. While other species in the animal kingdom fight for food, what do humans - in Malcolm's opinion - fight for?

2. Who does Malcolm contact to study the sample from the carcass he receives from Levine?

3. What does Levine learn about the handling of the carcasses that infuriates him?

4. According to Malcolm, how long do most mammals survive?

5. Levine is interested in the islands off the Costa Rican coast. Which island houses a Club Med resort?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to the Biosyn spy, why is Levine teaching a class at Woodside Junior High?

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

3. What is the "Edge of Chaos"?

4. Why does Levine hire Kelly and Arby to run errands for him?

5. How does Dodgson convince the head of Biosyn to allow Dodgson one more opportunity to successfully gain the dinosaur DNA he has been seeking?

6. What happens in the 1970s that leads scientists to wonder if human behavior could ultimately lead to extinction?

7. What do the members of Malcolm's audience have in common?

8. Why is Jack Thorne, who was once a Stanford professor, much happier away from academia?

9. As Ed James sits outside Levine's apartment and eavesdrops on the conversation between Thorne, Malcolm, and the children, why is James embarrassed?

10. Why can complex systems only flourish at the "Edge of Chaos"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the overriding beliefs the following characters had before they went to Isla Sorna and how those beliefs were changed by the events that transpired on the island: Levine, Harding, Malcolm, and Thorne.

Essay Topic 2

In the early parts of the story, there are many attempts by the Costa Rican government to cover up the existence of the aberrant animals. Describe two of the rumors that abounded about the aberrant animals and discuss how full disclosure by the Costa Rican authorities might have impacted the story and saved people's lives on the island. Would full disclosure by the authorities have made a difference at all? Why or why not? Support your answer with examples from the story.

Essay Topic 3

Explore Crichton's story through the quotes used at the beginning of each configuration. How do the quotes fit with the themes and events of each configuration? What do the quotes foreshadow? Why does the author choose these particular ideas - "quotes" from Ian Malcolm - to be at the beginning of each new section?

a. First Configuration - "In the conservative region far from the chaotic edge, individual elements coalesce slowly, showing no clear pattern."

b. Second Configuration - "Self-organization elaborates in complexity as the system advances toward the chaotic edge."

c. Third Configuration - "In the intermediate phase, swiftly developing complexity within the system hides the risk of imminent chaos. But the risk is there."

d. Fourth Configuration - "Approaching the chaotic edge, elements show internal conflict. An unstable and potentially lethal region."

e. Fifth Configuration - "At the edge of chaos, unexpected outcomes occur. The risk to survival is severe."

f. Sixth Configuration - "Order collapses in simultaneous regions. Survival is now unlikely for individuals and groups."

g. Seventh Configuration - "Partial restabilization may occur after eliminating destructive elements. Survival is partly determined by chance events."

(see the answer keys)

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