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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 4.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Dawkins call the molecule that he imagines as the first molecule to make copies of itself?
(a) The proto-RNA.
(b) The duplicator.
(c) The chicken-and-egg molecule.
(d) The replicator.

2. How does Dawkins characterize the natural world in his discussion of selfishness?
(a) As biased toward selecting particular behaviors.
(b) As alternately friendly and unfriendly.
(c) As dangerous and competitive.
(d) As well-balanced and selective.

3. What apparently selfish act of gulls does the author describe?
(a) Stealing another gull's nest.
(b) Eating others' baby chicks.
(c) "Ditching" the rest of the flock when a predator is spotted.
(d) Fighting for fish.

4. What process does the existence of Dawkins' imagined early molecules closely resemble?
(a) Hybridization.
(b) Crystalization.
(c) Evolution.
(d) Diffusion.

5. What does longevity provide to an early molecule, according to Dawkins?
(a) Time to make copies of itself.
(b) Time to modify its surroundings.
(c) Time to repair itself.
(d) Time to modify itself.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Dawkins' discussion, what does he consider alleles to be, relative to genes?

2. What example of the type of valued human behavior that perhaps influences people to believe in group selection does Dawkins give?

3. What apparently unselfish behavior of small birds does the author describe?

4. Does the author believe that genetically inherited traits cannot be changed?

5. What would happen to an early molecule that made many more copies of itself than other molecules made of themselves?

(see the answer key)

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