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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. Why were many of these scientific studies about extra-marital sexual unions never published?

2. What other creatures practice a form of agriculture?

3. Why does the author reason "like marries like?"

4. What final set of traits is clearly correlated to sexual attractiveness?

5. What do some linguists convincingly argue about the complexity of language?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the first criterion not uniquely human?

2. What is unusual about human sexuality?

3. Describe both Neanderthals.

4. What is the conventional wisdom regarding pre-agricultural hunter-gatherer societies? Is this correct?

5. What other creatures also practice agriculture, besides humans?

6. What is the significance of human language?

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

8. What have paleopathology investigations demonstrated regarding pre-agricultural hunter-gatherer humans and the average agricultural human?

9. What does the author suggest about humans and chimpanzees?

10. How does the author conclude this chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One chapter suggests that languages are not unique within humans except to the degree in which they have been developed.

Part 1) What is considered language? According to the author, how is language not completely unique within humans?

Part 2) How do other animals use language to communicate? How do these vocalizations compare to human language?

Part 3) Is it possible for language to continue to develop over time for both humans and other animals? Why or why not? Use the text to support your response.

Essay Topic 2

The author investigates rudimentary human languages such as pidgins and creoles.

Part 1) What are pidgins and creoles? How do they differ from other languages?

Part 2) What is the purpose of pidgins and creoles? Why has the author decided to discuss them?

Part 3) How do pidgins and creoles help support the author's view about the gap that exists between human language and animal vocalizations?

Essay Topic 3

This book discusses menopause.

Part 1) What is menopause? How is it unique among humans? Why is it unique among humans?

Part 2) What are the benefits of menopause, according to the author? Is he able to back up his claims? Why or why not?

Part 3) Do you agree with the author's theory about menopause? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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