View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens to animals that tend to lose in fights?

2. In early reproducing molecules, what is the measure of "success"?

3. What fundamental question does Dawkins want to consider?

4. Do one-celled animals seem to have purpose and intention, according to the author?

5. What does the Watt Governor machine appear to do?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Describe "crossing over."

4. What does Dawkins say that the book will tell about the argument of nature versus nurture?

5. What is a cistron?

6. In ESS simulations, what happens when a hawk enters a stable group of doves?

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

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

9. Explain what a prober-retaliator is.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss hive behavior in Dawkins' book.

1) How does Dawkins' idea of the selfish gene explain the behavior of hives and of sterile individuals in a species?

2) Why does Dawkins discuss hive behavior and the behavior of insects? Why does he only devote a part of a chapter to this discussion?

3) How much variation is there in insect behavior? How much variation is there between insect behavior and other types of animal organisms? How does this variation affect Dawkins' ideas?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the distinctions between humanity and other species in Dawkins' work.

1) In Dawkins' book, how does he treat humanity similarly to and differently from other species?

2) What does Dawkins believe makes humanity unique? How does this relate to Dawkins' theory of the selfish gene?

3) What implications does Dawkins' theory have for human beings?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 816 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample