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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Dawkins say that evolution is about?
(a) The good of an individual person.
(b) The good of an individual gene.
(c) The good of a species.
(d) The good of a particular DNA combination.

2. In the science fiction story Dawkins cites, who sends instructions through time?
(a) Future humans.
(b) Aliens.
(c) Robots.
(d) Intelligent animals.

3. 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.

4. What does Dawkins say points to the idea that all living things come from the same types of early molecules?
(a) All life forms are based on carbon.
(b) All life forms are made from DNA molecules.
(c) All life forms have basic cell structures.
(d) All life forms have similar pH balances.

5. What would molecules that broke down other self-copying molecules and used their parts eventually become?
(a) Inorganic materials.
(b) Single-celled organisms.
(c) Plants.
(d) Animals.

6. What does Dawkins compare point mutation to?
(a) A stray mark on a photocopy.
(b) A misprint on a book.
(c) A misspoken word.
(d) A card getting shuffled into the wrong deck.

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

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

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

10. What does the author compare nerves to?
(a) A computer.
(b) An engine.
(c) An abacus.
(d) Electrical wires.

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

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

13. How many nucleotide chains are in DNA?
(a) Two.
(b) Three.
(c) Four.
(d) Five.

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

15. When a cell creates a sperm cell or egg cell with reduced DNA, what is the process called?
(a) Mitosis.
(b) Meiosis.
(c) Plasmosis.
(d) Alleles.

Short Answer Questions

1. In the set of bees Dawkins mentions that deal with this disease, what does a second gene the bees have do?

2. In Dawkins' examine of ESS simulations, what two kinds of creatures are there?

3. How does Dawkins argue for communication being selfish?

4. What apparently selfish act of the praying mantis does the author describe?

5. What molecules does Dawkins say existed in ancient seas and formed amino acids?

(see the answer keys)

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