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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 3.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does the author say that human beings think of their own species?
(a) As able to rise above animal drives.
(b) As more imporant than other species.
(c) As a goal that evolution has achieved.
(d) As exempt from the laws of natural selection.

2. What molecules does Dawkins say existed in ancient seas and formed amino acids?
(a) Methane, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
(b) Water, carbon dioxide, methane, and amonia.
(c) Carbon dioxide, nitrogen, sulfur, and amonia.
(d) Water, nitrogen, hydrogen, and sulfur.

3. In Dawkins' metaphor about DNA, how many books are on the bookshelf?
(a) Forty-six.
(b) Thirty-two.
(c) Fifty-four.
(d) Twenty-three.

4. How does the author define intelligent life?
(a) As life that creates lasting communications.
(b) As life that tries to define itself.
(c) As life that asks where it came from.
(d) As life that distinguishes itself from other life.

5. According to Dawkins, are the self-copying molecules that Dawkins discusses "life" or not?
(a) Dawkins says it does not matter.
(b) Dawkins says that they are definitely "life."
(c) Dawkins says that they are definitely not "life."
(d) Dawkins says that they are a kind of "life," but not as we know it today.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens in inversion?

2. What would competition between early self-copying molecules be over?

3. Why does Dawkins say kind or cooperative behavior arises?

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

5. What does Dawkins say points to the idea that all living things come from the same types of early molecules?

(see the answer key)

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