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

2. When do some people believe that humans began altering the atmosphere, called the early Anthropocene hypothesis?

3. What is NOT a reason given for why taking carbon dioxide out of a gas stream is difficult?

4. Kolbert says that, without help, most of the carbon dioxide humans emit would turn to stone eventually, called what?

5. What did Lin Schwarzkopf help to invent?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the early Anthropocene hypothesis?

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

3. Who are the Odins that Colbert describes?

4. What makes cane toads so destructive?

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

6. What is a suppression drive?

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

8. What are the concerns surrounding rising temperatures?

9. How are geothermal plants clean?

10. What is the problem with fusion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

And under a white sky into the wild chapter 3, Kolbert begins and ends the chapter talking about gods. What does she say about gods in this chapter? Of what does this inform the reader? How does this talk about gods affect the tone of the book? How secure does the reader feel about mankind in his abilities in relation to this talk of gods?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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