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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. What does Dawkins mean by a "selfish gene?"
(a) A portion of DNA, copied in mutliple organisms, that programs behavior in the individual for self-survival.
(b) A portion of DNA, copied in mutliple organisms, that "tries" to become the dominant gene by preventing other genes from replicating.
(c) A portion of DNA, copied in mutliple organisms, that modifies behaviors in the organisms that would tend otherwise to be altruistic.
(d) A portion of DNA, copied in multiple organisms, "trying" to survive in ways that will continue to copy and propigate the gene.

2. What response does Dawkins give to the idea that birth control is wrong because it's unnatural?
(a) That birth regulation is an evolutionary adaptation.
(b) That human lifestyle is completely unnatural.
(c) That birth regulation is a survival instinct.
(d) That feeding the poor is also unnatural.

3. In Dawkins' game theory analysis of a colony of birds and ticks, what were grudger birds?
(a) Birds that can survive in symbiosis with ticks.
(b) Birds that refuse to have ticks taken off of their heads.
(c) Birds that refuse to take ticks off birds that won't help others.
(d) Birds that refuse to take ticks off other birds.

4. What factors are part of Dawkins' net benefit score?
(a) Benefit to the other, relatedness to the other, and risk to the organism.
(b) Benefit to the organism, risk to the other, and relatedness to the other.
(c) Risk to the organism, risk to the other, an relatedness to the other.
(d) Benefit to the organism, risk to the organism, and relatedness to the other.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Wynne-Edwards believe about territories that animals fight over?

2. What does Wynne-Edwards believe about birth rates?

3. How does Dawkins characterize the runt of a litter?

4. According to the relatedness calculations in the book, is a child more closely related to a sibling or an uncle?

5. According to the relatedness calculations in the book, how much more closely related is a child to a sibling than a half-sibling?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain Dawkins' interpretation of the affects of overpopulation on female mice.

2. What possible explanation for viruses does Dawkins give?

3. According to Dawkins, what selfish behavior might birds that have fewer eggs because of overpopulation exhibit?

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

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

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

7. When and why are gulls' offspring in danger?

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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