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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. What does Kolbert use to make yeast glow?

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

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

4. What did Lackner found in 2014 at ASU?

5. What is it called to bring a species back from extinction?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the concerns surrounding rising temperatures?

2. Who are the Odins that Colbert describes?

3. What are a couple of the responses when asked about man’s roll and fixing or protecting the environment in into the wild Chapter 3?

4. How are geothermal plants clean?

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

6. According to Climeworks, why does it make sense to turn carbon dioxide to stone?

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

8. How are rodents a biological marker of the Anthropocene age?

9. What is the explanation that Tizzard gives for why genetic modifications are a good option for dealing with imbalances in nature?

10. What does Kolbert think about the genetic engineering home kit that she purchases?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Under a White Sky was in the process of being finished and published during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. How does Kolbert relate the pandemic to her book? What connections does she make between climate change and a pandemic? How has the world changed because of the pandemic? How does this help you relate to the changes scientists in this book predict about our world?

Essay Topic 2

Kolbert clearly is drawn to Ruth Gates and her work. How is Gates different than other scientists Kolbert encounters in this book? Why is Kolbert drawn to her and her work? What does this reveal about Kolbert?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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