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 does Dawkins postulate would preserve a gene forever?

2. What does Dawkins postulate maintains sexual reproduction as a feature?

3. To what does Dawkins compare ESS conclusions about individual behaviors within a species?

4. What fundamental question does Dawkins want to consider?

5. What two opposites does Dawkins say he is examining the biology of?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the results of the intruder retreat experiment done by Niko Tinbergen.

2. What examples does Dawkins give of humanity's valuation of its own species?

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. What does Dawkins say would happen if a selfish member of a species were born into a species of unselfish members?

10. What is a cistron?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the role of game theory in Dawkins' book.

1) What is game theory? How does it allow scientists to look at systems in the natural world?

2) Why does Dawkins use game theory to support his arguments about the selfish gene? How convincing is the support that Dawkins provides using game theory?

3) What are the limitations of game theory in analyzing natural systems?

Essay Topic 3

Dawkins attributes many attitudes and beliefs to things people want to be true. Discuss how what people want to believe affects people's perception of science in Dawkins' book.

1) Why does Dawkins say that people want to believe in group selection? What affect has this had on evolutionary thought?

2) Why does Dawkins say that people want to believe that parents' relationships with children are an exception to rules of evolution? Are Dawkins' concerns valid?

3) In what other ways do people's desire to believe certain things affect perceptions of the concepts in the book?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 891 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample