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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 does the neocortex size reliably predict?

2. How does the conscious dimension of action occur?

3. Up until a certain point, what separated the human hand from that of the ape's hand?

4. How does David control the horses he raises?

5. How does David compensate for his lack of strength?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is George, and what does Wilson say about him?

2. What does the addition and transport of weight to the body cause?

3. What are the eight features of the human hand according to Mary Marzke?

4. What does practice after learning do?

5. What does Wilson say about juggling as a pastime?

6. What is the connection between marionettes and the human muscle and tendon configuration in the arms and legs?

7. How is the arm different from the leg in how it is attached to the body, and which parts of the upper body corresponds to the "folding crane"?

8. What terms does John Napier use that mean essentially the same as "prehensile" and "non-prehensile" and what do the terms mean?

9. What puzzles Frank Wilson about rock climbing and piano playing? Why?

10. What has to happen in order for the thumb to be useful?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss, in depth, the following statements using examples from the text to support your answer:

1. Writing and drawing relate to many other skills using small tools by both right and left-handers.

2. Throwing and throwing arm choice correlates with other whole body skills.

3. Right-handers both write and throw with that hand, whereas left-hand writers throw with right hands in one-half the cases and have stronger, larger right-hand thumbs and kick with a right foot.

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Frank R. Wilson.

2. What in Wilson's background may have helped him in writing The Hand? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her books? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Through the ages of human history Wilson explores cultural transformation of human paths and posits the "permanent immaturity" of a human brain. Wilson's underlying thesis is that people are born resourceful. Over time and experience, they adapt and evolve to become skillful and thoughtful.

1. Explain, in detail what is meant by "permanent immaturity" of a human brain. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss two ways in which humans have adapted to their environment. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. Explain how becoming more skillful and thoughtful is related to evolution. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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