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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. What is the title of the speech Malcolm is giving regarding extinction and complexity theory?

2. With what school is the person who stands and interrupts Malcolm's lecture associated?

3. Where is the person walking with Malcolm across the open courtyard after his lecture scheduled to return to the next day?

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

5. When Malcolm explains how active our planet is, which of the planet's features does he describe as being relatively new?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. When Thorne and the children arrive at Levine's apartment, name three items that they find.

3. When the theory of evolution was first presented, there was very little debate. Why?

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

5. What two events occur in the 1970s that cause scientists to focus their attention on extinction?

6. What is the "Edge of Chaos"?

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

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

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

10. Identify and describe the theory supported by the high levels of iridium at the K-T boundary.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Through his research, Levine comes to believe that the lost world is located on Isla Sorna. Malcolm agrees.

a. Discuss the process by which Levine and Malcolm come to rest on Isla Sorna as the lost world's hiding place.

b. What features of the island make it a suitable candidate for their expedition? Identify at least five features of the island.

c. What is the importance of the volcano located on the island?

d. Based on the information revealed about Isla Sorna before the group embarks on their trip, would you have believed that Levine located the right island? Why or why not? Be sure to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

The book is entitled, "The Lost World". Why does the author choose this title? How does the title foreshadow the creatures used in the novel, the events that unfold on the island, and the choice of Ian Malcolm as one of the main characters?

Essay Topic 3

Among those on Isla Sorna are the two stowaways, Kelly and Arby. Discuss the reasons the children decided to hide in the trailers, as well as Levine's reaction to their arrival. What role do the children serve in the larger story? Why does Crichton decide to write Kelly and Arby into the story at all? Be sure to support your answers with examples from the story.

(see the answer keys)

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