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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Dawkins' metaphor about DNA, what represents a gene?
(a) A line on a page in a book.
(b) A page in a book.
(c) A chapter in a book.
(d) A word in a book.

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

3. What did scientists do to test the genes that controlled bee behavior?
(a) Breed bees with duplicates of both genes.
(b) Breed bees without either gene.
(c) Breed bees with duplicates of one of the genes.
(d) Breed bees with one of the genes only.

4. In Dawkins' discussion, what does he consider alleles to be, relative to genes?
(a) Understudies.
(b) Rivals.
(c) Cooperative partners.
(d) Immaterial extras.

5. In early reproducing molecules, what is the measure of "success"?
(a) That there are more chemical reactions that can use the molecule.
(b) That there are more copies of the molecule, whether they are accurate or not.
(c) That there are more molecules around that are like the molecule.
(d) That there are fewer ways for the molecule to be destroyed.

Short Answer Questions

1. Can a gene change it's strategy for survival?

2. What does Dawkins postulate would preserve a gene forever?

3. What does longevity provide to an early molecule, according to Dawkins?

4. What would not have existed in early oceans, that would have allowed amino acids and proteins to exist for long periods of time, to slowly develop into more complex forms?

5. What apparently unselfish act of a bee does the author describe?

(see the answer key)

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