1. What does the author suggest might be better wording than "survival of the fittest"?
(a) Survival of the stable.
(b) Survival of the most reliable.
(c) Survival of the best.
(d) Survival of the most adaptable.

2. Does Dawkins believe people want to view parental care as different from other evolutionary behaviors?
(a) No, Dawkins believes people can clearly see that parental care fits with evolutionary forces.
(b) Yes, but only as it applies to mother-child relationships..
(c) Yes, he believes people want to consider parental care a special case.
(d) No, but Dawkins believes that parental care is a special case.

3. What reason does Dawkins give that females care more for offspring?
(a) A female has already contributed more resources in terms of the egg.
(b) A female has a greater relatedness to the offspring.
(c) A female does not have the ability to reproduce again immediately.
(d) A female is naturally nurturing.

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

5. How does a mother protecting a child promote the selfish gene theory?
(a) The child will later protect the mother in turn.
(b) The mother is extending selfish behavior to new situations.
(c) The mother is repurposing selfish genes to protect the child.
(d) The child carries many of the same genes as the mother.

Short Answer Questions

1. 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?

2. What fundamental question does Dawkins want to consider?

3. What does Dawkins describe as "intruder retreat" behavior?

4. What two opposites does Dawkins say he is examining the biology of?

5. In Dawkins' description, how does a retaliator behave?

(see the answer key)

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