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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 is the Kaneohe Bay a prime location for studying and creating super coral?

2. What is the scientific name for the Devil’s Hole pupfish?

3. What are the main causes of the shrinkage of Isle de Jean Charles?

4. After a course on corals, Ruth Gates moved from where to Jamaica in 1985 to study corals and their symbionts?

5. How did Kolbert first learn of Devil’s Hole?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is extinction now an observable phenomenon?

2. How is Kolbert inspired by Gates?

3. What problems has human domination over nature caused, according to Kolbert?

4. What is amazing about coral reefs?

5. How did the indigenous people of the New Orleans area deal with flooding versus the first European settlers?

6. What do most of the Australians Kolbert spoke to think about the future of the Great Barrier Reef?

7. What is the problem with Wood Screw Pumps?

8. In what ways are those in the Chicago area trying to manage the carp problem?

9. How is an atoll formed?

10. Why was the Old River Control Auxiliary Structure created?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does Kolbert say about man and his relationship with the natural world? Do you agree with her? Why or why not? Has reading Under a White Sky altered your perspective of the environment and what is being done to remedy problems? If so, how? If not, why not?

Essay Topic 2

Kolbert background is journalism. How does she use this background in writing her book? In what ways does the reader feel that he or she is reading a work by a journalist? Do you believe it’s beneficial that Colbert has a journalism background? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Kolbert mentions that most Australians she spoke to realize that saving the Great Barrier Reef is impossible, and they are hoping for saving an Okay Barrier Reef. What are your thoughts on this comment? How do you feel about a world of okay nature? What might this mean for mankind’s future?

(see the answer keys)

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