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. How does the author suggest that bird calls might help a bird that is trying to hide by freezing to camouflage itself?
(a) The call might cause the rest of the flock to freeze and not attract attention.
(b) The call might allow the bird to focus and remain quiet for a longer period of time.
(c) The call might cause the rest of the flock to fly and distract predators.
(d) The call might be hard to pinpoint and therefore distract predators.

2. What does Dawkins cite Medawar's study to help explain?
(a) Male and female hormonal differences.
(b) Menstrual cycles.
(c) Male fertility.
(d) Menopause.

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

4. What animals does the author mention as examples of animals that work hard to rescue or save others?
(a) Bears and squids.
(b) Lions and dolphins.
(c) Zebras and sharks.
(d) Baboons and whales.

5. What does Wynne-Edwards say happens when other animals communicate to the species that there is overpopulation?
(a) The animals have fewer young.
(b) The animals store extra food.
(c) The animals claim larger territories.
(d) The animals attack others' young.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the study of egg clutch sizes that Dawkins cites show?

2. According to the relatedness calculations in the book, how closely related is an individual to a cousin?

3. In Dawkins' discussion, what is the detriment of raising offspring, if there is something wrong with it?

4. How does the author suggest that bird calls might help a bird that is trying to fly up into the trees?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What factors does Dawkins mention that weigh into caring for older versus younger offspring?

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

3. What theory about parental suffering for children's success does Dawkins describe?

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

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

6. Describe Trivers' observations of striped cleaner fish.

7. What examples does Dawkins give of male animals resisting raising offspring that's not their own?

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

9. What is Hamilton's explanation of how herds are formed?

10. Does Dawkins agree or disagree with the theory about parental suffering for children's success, and why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,003 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample