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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through The Coming Thing.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Frank Preston say made up the majority of species in any ecosystem?
(a) A few very rare species.
(b) A few very common species.
(c) A large number of fairly common species.
(d) A large number of small animals that served as food for a number of larger animals.

2. What population does Quammen compare with the thylacine population?
(a) The Komodo dragon.
(b) The indigenous people of Tasmania.
(c) The dodo.
(d) The passenger pigeon.

3. When did the dodo go extinct?
(a) 20th century.
(b) 19th century.
(c) 17th century.
(d) 18th century.

4. What did the dodo eat?
(a) Other birds.
(b) Insects.
(c) Small mammals and snakes.
(d) Fruit.

5. What rule governs the relationship between the size of an island and the number of species it can support?
(a) The taller the highest point on the island, the greater the number of species.
(b) The longer the coastline the greater the number of species.
(c) The large the island, the greater the number of species.
(d) The greater the fertility of the soil, the greater the number of species.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the difference between an isolate and a sample?

2. Where did Wallace travel after the Amazon?

3. How do scientists relate data from samples and isolates to larger areas?

4. Where did Quammen go to study temrecs?

5. According to Jared Diamond, a nature reserve has to have what characteristics, in order to support a large number of species?

(see the answer key)

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