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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to the relatedness calculations in the book, is a child more closely related to a sibling or an uncle?
(a) An uncle.
(b) The child is equally related to both.
(c) A sibling.
(d) It's impossible to compare.

2. In the ant colonies studied by Trivers and Hare, what do the ants do with eggs stolen from other colonies?
(a) Use the ants as mates.
(b) Eat the eggs.
(c) Destroy the eggs.
(d) Use the ants as slaves.

3. In Dawkins' discussion, why do baby birds scream?
(a) To warn away aggressors.
(b) To scold sibling birds.
(c) To show how hungry they are.
(d) To attract love from the parent.

4. What does Dawkins say that Honeyguide chicks do?
(a) Scream less loud to not attract too much attention to themselves as intruders.
(b) Blackmail parents into getting more food by screaming loud enough to attract predators.
(c) Kill other chicks in the nest.
(d) Steal food from other chicks in the nest.

5. To what does Wynne-Edwards attribute changes to female mice as the population rises?
(a) Random variation in individuals.
(b) Natural selection of individuals.
(c) Random variation within groups.
(d) Group selection.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is difficult to explain about honeybees, according to Dawkins' theory?

2. What happens to cuckoo eggs that look dissimilar to the host eggs they replace?

3. What does Wynne-Edwards teach?

4. From a gene's point of view, what does Dawkins say an organism is equally related to?

5. How is male and female responsibility for offspring different in fish?

Short Essay Questions

1. What may happen to guillemot eggs, and what is the adaptation of guillemots to deal with this?

2. What does Dawkins substitute for survival of a species?

3. Why does Dawkins say mothers are more altruistic to their children than fathers?

4. Why, from the standpoint of the selfish gene, is it more beneficial to save five siblings than five cousins?

5. How do Trivers and Dawkins differ in their interpretation of males investing energy into offspring before mating?

6. What two possible explanations for the behavior of the baby swallow observed by the Spanish researchers does Dawkins present?

7. What does higher PI mean, in R.L. Trivers' ideas?

8. What is the cuckoo's adaptation to care for its eggs?

9. What is the result of Dawkins' game theory analysis of male and female sexual and childrearing behaviors?

10. How does Dawkins describe female cells versus male cells?

(see the answer keys)

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