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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 did Whittington dissect Opabinia?

2. What kind of development were the Burgess animals first interpreted to have?

3. How was Walcott's taxonomy significantly updated?

4. What are Marrella and Yohoia?

5. What kind of drama does Gould wish to recount that led to rejecting Walcott's interpretation?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Stephen Jay Gould desire to use the Burgess Shale for?

2. Why do paleontologists find Opabinia unbelievable and fascinating?

3. What did Leif Størmer's "Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology" describe?

4. What is the first chapter of "Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History" about?

5. What are Marrella and Yohoia in terms of evolution?

6. Why did Gould write this book as an homage to the Burgess Shale?

7. Why could the acceptance of the new interpretation create within humans a psychological shock?

8. Why did Whittington approach Yohoia less conservatively?

9. What is the purpose of Chapter 2: A Background for the Burgess Shale?

10. What special insight or perspective does the Burgess Shale offer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Act 1 discusses the differences between Leif Størmer's explanation of the Burgess arthropods in his Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology and Walcott's narrow groupings of arthropod phylums. Compile at least three examples provided by Gould's book that examine their similarities and differences.

Essay Topic 2

In Act 2, Gould develops the idea that even classification is sometimes inadequate. Science is constantly changing and updating. First, explain the evidence that supports Opabinia's distinctiveness and why it cannot be classified among any of the known animals of this earth. Second, explain the themes Gould uses to tie this evidence into a philosophical and historical point using at least two examples from Act 2.

Essay Topic 3

Since a team controls research data, it's important that each member function in unison. Answer the following question: Is the diversity of Whittington's team a strength or a weakness? Discuss three ways in which their diversity is a strength or a weakness. Use material from the entire book to support your examples.

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