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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What apparently selfish act of the praying mantis does the author describe?
(a) Leading another mantis into a spider's web.
(b) Injuring another mantis that enters a claimed territory.
(c) A female eating her mate.
(d) Fighting over an aphid colony.

2. How would the results differ if the goal were the success of the group?
(a) The same mixture of two kinds of behavior would still be most successful.
(b) A group of only one kind of behavior would be more successful.
(c) The reverse of the mixture of two kinds of behavior would be more successful.
(d) A slightly differnet mixture of the two kinds of behavior would be more successful.

3. What do the letters A, T, C, and G stand for?
(a) Different types of RNA.
(b) Different types of DNA.
(c) Different types of genes.
(d) Different types of nucleotides.

4. What two opposites does Dawkins say he is examining the biology of?
(a) Selfishness and altruism.
(b) Rationality and emotionalism.
(c) Individuality and community.
(d) Self-centeredness and other-centeredness.

5. What does Dawkins postulate maintains sexual reproduction as a feature?
(a) The need for genetic variation.
(b) The sexual reproduction gene trying to copy itself.
(c) The impossibility of asexual reproduction.
(d) The desireability of genetic mutations.

6. 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?
(a) As unscientific.
(b) As probable.
(c) As fundamental to evolution.
(d) As a reasonable alternative hypothesis.

7. What does Dawkins say readers can think of DNA as?
(a) A set of plans.
(b) A set of general guidelines.
(c) A computer controling the body.
(d) A dictatorial ruler.

8. How does Dawkins define communication?
(a) A gene behavior that allows cooperation between multiple gene machines.
(b) A learned behavior that is founded in genetic behaviors linking multiple gene machines.
(c) A gene behavior that helps one group of genes survive by influencing the behavior of another.
(d) A mutually learned behavior resulting from genetic behaviors that help groups of gene machines maintain cohesiveness.

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

10. What does longevity provide to an early molecule, according to Dawkins?
(a) Time to modify its surroundings.
(b) Time to repair itself.
(c) Time to modify itself.
(d) Time to make copies of itself.

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

12. What does ESS stand for?
(a) Evolutionary Stable Strategy.
(b) Evolutionarily Successful Strategy.
(c) Environmental Secure Strategy.
(d) Engineered Survival Strategy.

13. What is the most stable result of the specific ESS simulation Dawkins describes?
(a) A 1:4 mixture of two kinds of behavior.
(b) A 1:1 mixture of two kinds of behavior.
(c) A 7:5 mixture of two kinds of behavior.
(d) A 3:2 mixture of two kinds of behavior.

14. What apparently unselfish act of a bee does the author describe?
(a) Fighting off predators who are near the queen.
(b) Bringing back pollen to help feed the whole colony.
(c) Evacuating immature bees from an endangered hive.
(d) Losing its life to sting an intruder.

15. What process does the existence of Dawkins' imagined early molecules closely resemble?
(a) Hybridization.
(b) Crystalization.
(c) Diffusion.
(d) Evolution.

Short Answer Questions

1. What would happen to an early molecule that made many more copies of itself than other molecules made of themselves?

2. What does Dawkins suggest fooling certain genes into thinking the body is younger might do?

3. What does Dawkins say that evolution is about?

4. Why does the author use the word "apparently" to describe selfish or unselfish behavior?

5. In Dawkins' discussion, what does he consider alleles to be, relative to genes?

(see the answer keys)

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