View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What does Dawkins point out about antelopes' herd behavior?
(a) The herd behavior is fot the good of the species.
(b) The herd behavior sacrifices an individual for the species survival.
(c) The herd behavior is not an adaptation.
(d) The herd behavior gives indidivuals a better chance of survival.

3. 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.

4. Can a gene change it's strategy for survival?
(a) No, genes can only create the protein they are formed to generate.
(b) Yes, genes modify themselves to try new strategies.
(c) Yes, genes modify their strategy by chaning the proteins they form.
(d) No, genes only predict a likely strategy and are stuck with it.

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

Short Answer Questions

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

2. In Dawkins' metaphor about DNA, what does the bookshelf represent?

3. When a cell divides to make a new cell with identical DNA, what is the process called?

4. In Dawkins' metaphor about DNA, how does he describe the creation of new DNA by sexual reproduction?

5. What apparently selfish act of the penguin does the author describe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What results in variety in Dawkins' view of early self-copying molecules?

2. Why doesn't Dawkins find it statistically remarkable that an early molecule would arise that would copy itself?

3. How does Dawkins say that DNA differs from blueprints for making a building?

4. In ESS simulations, what happens when a hawk enters a stable group of doves?

5. What examples does Dawkins give of humanity's valuation of its own species?

6. What happens to genes in sexual reproduction?

7. What two ways does Dawkins picture that the first self-copying molecule might copy itself?

8. In war of attrition scenarios, what is the best bet for individual behavior, according to Dawkins' reports?

9. What is a cistron?

10. Describe the results of the intruder retreat experiment done by Niko Tinbergen.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 879 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample