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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. Kolbert describes a carbon scrubbing machine invented by Lackner. To what does she compare it?

2. What is the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere called?

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

4. What do Tizard and his partner hope to accomplish regarding cane toad eggs?

5. What mammals were first experimented on with CRISPR and the gene drive?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How are geothermal plants clean?

3. What are negative emissions? Why might they be important?

4. What is a suppression drive?

5. What are the concerns surrounding rising temperatures?

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

7. How do cane toads become a problem in Australia?

8. What is the early Anthropocene hypothesis?

9. What is usually use to kill rodents? What are the problems associated with this?

10. What is the issue with chemical weathering regarding carbon dioxide?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kolbert says that clear signs of the Anthropocene age are increased radioactivity and rodents. In what ways does that show the influence of humans on the natural world? How has the world been negatively affected by this influence? How might this human influence also be considered a natural occurrence as it has been happening since mankind was first created? How might this support the idea that there is no absolutely natural world and that the world is full of genetically modified beings?

Essay Topic 2

Kolbert starts off Up in the Air Chapter 1 by mentioning a subscription she paid for that claimed, for a fee, they would scrub the buyer’s carbon emissions from the atmosphere. Would you have paid for such a service? Why or why not? Do you believe others, besides Kolbert, would pay for this service? Why or why not? What might this reveal about the majority of people?

Essay Topic 3

Scientists have come up with wild and crazy ideas for dealing with climate change. What are a couple examples? Are these valid options? Why or why not? Are even the craziest ideas important? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 880 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample