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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What almost always happens when copies of things are made, according to Dawkins?

2. How does the author define intelligent life?

3. What apparently selfish act of gulls does the author describe?

4. How common does Dawkins say doubt about evolution is?

5. What apparently unselfish act of a bee does the author describe?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Dawkins view many-celled life forms?

3. Explain Dawkins' argument for why cannibalism is very rare.

4. Explain how the Watt Governor uses mechanics to regulate itself.

5. How are the beginning and end of genes in DNA marked?

6. Explain what a prober-retaliator is.

7. In Dawkins' metaphor about DNA, what is the role of page numbers?

8. Explain why Dawkins speculates that cannibalism might make sense within his selfish gene theory.

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

10. Describe "crossing over."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss aggression within a species in Dawkins' book.

1) Why does Dawkins raise the question of cannibalism as a potentially viable food source for species, and what are his conclusions about the question?

2) How does Dawkins analyze aggression between members of a species? Are his arguments convincing?

3) What various personality types does Dawkins identify in regard to aggression? How simplified is this model compared to the natural world?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Darwin's treatment of siblings in The Selfish Gene.

1) In what ways are siblings in competition? Why doesn't competition between siblings typically escalate to deadly competition?

2) In what ways do siblings cooperate or benefit each other?

3) How do the relationships between siblings vary between species in the natural world, and how does this relate to Dawkins' overall theory.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Dawkins' treatment of memes.

1) How does Dawkins apply theories of evolution to memes? How do memes differ from genes?

2) What role do memes play in human culture? Do memes play any role in other species' existence?

3) How do memes relate to Dawkins' theory of the selfish gene? Why does he discuss memes?

(see the answer keys)

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