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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. Why does Dawkins say kind or cooperative behavior arises?

2. Does the author believe that all people should act selfishly?

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

4. In the science fiction story Dawkins cites, is the machine created by the instructions beneficial or dangerous?

5. What is the most stable type of behavior in the computer simulations of ESS?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dawkins have to say about the phrase "to ensure the survival of the species?"

2. Describe "crossing over."

3. Describe the behavior of chains of atoms in human blood, as Dawkins describes it.

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

5. What does Dawkins say would be a natural extension of valuing one's own species more than other species?

6. How does Dawkins view whether fidelity is important to evolution?

7. Describe the comparison that Dawkins makes regarding a gangster.

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

9. What are the main actions living organisms do, as gene machines?

10. According to Dawkins, what happened to self-copying molecules that were less successful?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the concept of relatedness in Dawkins' book.

1) What is the relationship between relatedness and altruism? What is its relationship to selfishness?

2) How does Dawkins calculate relatedness mathematically? What does this math represent?

3) How does Dawkins' treatment of relatedness differ from most people's cultural ideas of being related? What is the relationship between relatedness and genes?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the idea of stability in natural systems.

1) What is ESS, and why is it valuable to scientists who are studying natural systems?

2) Why does nature tend toward stable systems? What causes this rule to be true?

3) How does stability affect evolution? What is its relationship to competition?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the idea of a "gene machine" in The Selfish Gene.

1) Why does Dawkins make genes the dominant idea and organisms secondary to their genes?

2) What causes a "gene machine" to be successful or unsuccessful?

3) What causes change in "gene machines?" Why are they different from one another?

(see the answer keys)

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