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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the Watt Governor machine regulate?
(a) How heavy it becomes.
(b) How hot it becomes.
(c) How fast its arms spin.
(d) How high it rises.

2. Does the author believe that genetically inherited traits cannot be changed?
(a) Yes, he believes genetically inherited traits cover all behavior and are unchangeable.
(b) No, he does not believe genetically inherited traits are impossible to change.
(c) No, he believes that genetically inherited traits are only vague predispositions that are easily and commonly changed.
(d) Yes, he believes that genetically inherited traits are unchangeable, but they don't govern all behavior.

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

4. What would give longevity to early self-duplicating molecules, according to Dawkins?
(a) Greater flexibility.
(b) Larger numbers of components.
(c) Smaller numbers of elements.
(d) Greater stability.

5. According to Dawkins, how might a gene that normally does something selfish end in doing something unselfish?
(a) The selfish behavior might be modified by external influences.
(b) The selfish behavior, combined with other genes' behaviors, might create an unselfish-seeming behavior.
(c) The selfish behavior gene cannot end in doing something unselfish.
(d) The gene might change its role because of negative response to the selfish behavior.

6. In Dawkins' metaphor about DNA, what does the bookshelf represent?
(a) A single cell.
(b) A cell nucleus.
(c) A chromosome.
(d) A strand of DNA.

7. What shape does the author say water molecules in space make?
(a) Octagonal.
(b) Elliptical.
(c) Round.
(d) Spiral.

8. In the science fiction story Dawkins cites, is the machine created by the instructions beneficial or dangerous?
(a) It is dangerous.
(b) It is both beneficial and dangerous, at different times.
(c) It is neither dangerous nor beneficial.
(d) It is beneficial.

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

10. Do one-celled animals seem to have purpose and intention, according to the author?
(a) Yes, but they only appear to be purposeful.
(b) No, they seem to behave without purpose.
(c) Yes, they must have some sort of mindful intention.
(d) No, except under unusual circumstances.

11. What apparently selfish act of gulls does the author describe?
(a) Eating others' baby chicks.
(b) Fighting for fish.
(c) Stealing another gull's nest.
(d) "Ditching" the rest of the flock when a predator is spotted.

12. What would competition between early self-copying molecules be over?
(a) Gaseous molecules.
(b) Water.
(c) Space.
(d) Building-block molecules.

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

14. To what does Dawkins compare ESS conclusions about individual behaviors within a species?
(a) Species behavior within an ecosystem.
(b) Gene development within DNA.
(c) DNA development within chromosomes.
(d) Cell development within an organ.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of math does the author discuss that's used to model how real animals behave in the world?

2. What does Dawkins postulate maintains sexual reproduction as a feature?

3. What does the author compare nerves to?

4. What type of animal brains does Dawkins say are most successful?

5. What apparently unselfish behavior of small birds does the author describe?

(see the answer keys)

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