View a FREE sample

This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 10.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What fundamental question does Dawkins want to consider?
(a) Why do people exist?
(b) Why do molecules exist?
(c) Why does DNA exist?
(d) Why do genes exist?

2. In early reproducing molecules, what is the measure of "success"?
(a) That there are fewer ways for the molecule to be destroyed.
(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 more chemical reactions that can use the molecule.

3. What is the smallest unit that is reproduced and carried on through natural selection?
(a) A cell.
(b) A gene.
(c) A chromosome.
(d) A DNA strand.

4. What attribute of male birds of paradise does Zahavi say is a kind of boast that even with a dangerous physical characteristic, the bird is strong enough to survive?
(a) A beautifully feathered but uselessly structured foot.
(b) A brightly colored, easily seen headdress.
(c) A long, dragging tail.
(d) A bright, attractive pattern on its wings.

5. What type of math does the author discuss that's used to model how real animals behave in the world?
(a) Game theory.
(b) Chaos theory.
(c) Probability theory.
(d) Approximation theory.

Short Answer Questions

1. What four categories does Dawkins have in his game theory analysis of male and female sexual and childrearing behaviors?

2. What does Dawkins compare point mutation to?

3. How does Darwin characterize the idea that the goal of evolution is for a species to survive, so individuals will take actions that are good for the species?

4. What factors are part of Dawkins' net benefit score?

5. According to Dawkins, how might a gene that normally does something selfish end in doing something unselfish?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 433 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample