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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why were cane toads first introduced outside of their natural environments?
(a) To kill the beetle grubs that were eating sugar cane.
(b) To replace another extinct toad species.
(c) To keep ponds clear of algae.
(d) To eat fly larvae.

2. A widely supported view regarding years the effect of human behavior on the environment is that it did not really become significant until when?
(a) The early-twentieth century.
(b) The early-nineteenth century.
(c) The late-eighteenth century.
(d) The late-seventeenth century.

3. What would Lackner and Wendt’s invention do?
(a) It would shoot small diamond particles into the stratosphere.
(b) It would turn carbon dioxide to stone in a matter of days.
(c) It would create solar panels to power the world and scrub carbon from the atmosphere.
(d) It would send mankind to another planet.

4. Which country produces the most emissions?
(a) Russia.
(b) The U.S.
(c) China.
(d) All African nations combined.

5. What bacteria is included in Kolbert’s genetic modification kit?
(a) Coccus.
(b) Bacillus.
(c) Vibrio.
(d) E-coli.

Short Answer Questions

1. Kolbert talks about a trip she took to Zurich, Switzerland, where she visited a Climeworks facility; what was done with the carbon dioxide?

2. How many species of birds has the Pacific rat killed off?

3. What happened to an engineer in China who used CRISPR on a set of twins?

4. To keep the temperature increase at a minimum, the world would have to end all emissions by when?

5. Who does Tizard bring on to help with the details of toad experiments?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are the Odins that Colbert describes?

2. How is cutting emissions at once absolutely essential and insufficient?

3. What is the widely held view regarding man’s influence on the atmosphere?

4. What is an outlaw gene? Why is it important to this book?

5. What is a suppression drive?

6. What are the concerns surrounding rising temperatures?

7. What makes cane toads so destructive?

8. What are some of the ways that Kolbert mentions Australians deal with cane toads? What might be the pros and cons?

9. What are three major issues with the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

10. How are geothermal plants clean?

(see the answer keys)

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