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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Why does the author use the word "apparently" to describe selfish or unselfish behavior?
(a) Because behavior may only seem selfish or unselfish.
(b) Because he doesn't believe the examples he is citing are necessarily true.
(c) Because he is only concerned about appearances of selfishness.
(d) Because he doesn't really believe in the terms selfish and unselfish.

3. What type of animal brains does Dawkins say are most successful?
(a) Animal brians that can analyze input.
(b) Animal brians that can creat instinctive action.
(c) Animal brains that can learn.
(d) Animal brains that can communicate quickly.

4. In the science fiction story Dawkins cites, what do the instructions make?
(a) A space ship.
(b) An energy generator.
(c) A computer.
(d) A time travel machine.

5. What almost always happens when copies of things are made, according to Dawkins?
(a) Conflict between the copies.
(b) Confusion between copies and originals.
(c) An overabundance of copies.
(d) Mistakes in the copies.

Short Answer Questions

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

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

3. What does the author compare nerves to?

4. How does Dawkins argue for communication being selfish?

5. What process does the existence of Dawkins' imagined early molecules closely resemble?

(see the answer key)

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