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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 does Quammen say Wallace developed in South America?
(a) A terrifying vision of the destruction of ecosystems.
(b) A sharp eye for different traits in insects.
(c) A clear vision of the profits to be made in providing scientists with specimens.
(d) A deep devotion to the science of zoology.

2. When does a species' dispersal ability become important, according to Quammen?
(a) When a species is forced to find new food sources.
(b) When an island loses all its life after a catastrophic event.
(c) When a species is threatened by new predators.
(d) When the species is isolated by mountain ranges or lakes.

3. How did sailors describe the dodo?
(a) Cagey.
(b) Stupid.
(c) Swift.
(d) Canny.

4. What did Philip Darlington propose?
(a) A correction that makes this rule broadly applicable.
(b) A mathematical ratio between island area and number of species.
(c) A set of formula that measure biodiversity.
(d) A set of exceptions to this rule.

5. What does Quammen say makes animals smaller on islands?
(a) Larger food supply.
(b) Smaller food supply.
(c) Larger predators.
(d) Smaller territories.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who did Robert Bates work with?

2. What is a thylacine?

3. When does Quammen say his field became a field of inquiry?

4. Who was Truganini?

5. How long did Wilson and MacArthur predict it would take for species to reach equilibrium on Krakatau?

(see the answer key)

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