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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. Who are the chimps' closest living relatives?

2. H. erectus was not the first upright hominid but bears the appellation. Why?

3. Around 500,000 years ago, H. erectus appears to have given rise to who?

4. What does evidence suggest about how long race has been a characteristic of modern humans?

5. To what is the pair bonding found among humans probably due?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the purpose of this chapter?

2. What is an optimal organism?

3. What are pidgins or creoles?

4. What does the author think about humans and chimps and how they should be properly considered, regarding species and genus?

5. What does the author say qualifies as art?

6. How are females nearly unique among animals in menopause?

7. Describe both Neanderthals.

8. What has research discovered about the percentage of children who are not raised by their biological fathers?

9. How does Chapter 5 begin?

10. What does the author say about chimps and humans, regarding their DNA?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The book poses the question, why did Europeans conquer the Americas?

Part 1) According to this book, how were Europeans able to conquer the Americas, as well as many other lands around the world? Do you agree with the author's reasoning? Why or why not?

Part 2) Does this type of conquering still exist today? Why or why not?

Part 3) How has the conquering by the Europeans affected many cultures and societies around the world? What does this reveal about the power of the European people?

Essay Topic 2

Culture and society vastly complicate the idea of extra-marital sex.

Part 1) What role does society and culture play in the consequences of adultery?

Part 2) How does the view of adulterous relationships and polygamy vary from culture to culture and from one time period to another? What affect do these views have on the relationships between humans?

Part 3) What are your views on adultery and polygamy? Where have you acquired these views? How do your views affect the relationships you have with others?

Essay Topic 3

A theory is presented that seeks to explain human tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse as a form of deliberate handicap.

Part 1) How does the author try to prove that this abuse is a form of deliberate handicap? What is a deliberate handicap found in other animal species?

Part 2) Do you agree that that drug and substance abuse is a form of deliberate handicap? Why or why not?

Part 3) Do other animal species purposely cause harm to their bodies? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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