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

2. What is the Burgess Shale composed of?

3. What does the Precambrian Era contain?

4. What does the evolution of life contain, according to Gould's explanations and illustrations?

5. Which genus was Whittington focused on classifying in Chapter Three?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did using these new methods allow Whittington's team to do?

2. How did Whittington try to uncover the bodily appendages of Opabinia?

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

4. What sorts of new procedures did Whittington's team use?

5. What did people think Opabinia was and what did Whittington choose to believe about this idea?

6. What did Whittington find Opabinia to actually be?

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

8. What is the boundary between the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras famous?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 2, the relationship between Burgess fauna and eukaryotic fauna is examined. of the sequential artist and the reader is examined. Examine the different stages of fauna. Answer the following question: What does this relationship express about evolution in general and about the Burgess Shale in particular? Use one of your own supporting ideas to back up your statement, and at least two examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

How is the Burgess Shale a significant discovery for fossils and for the history of human development? Explain the author's reasoning using two examples from the book. Support your case with solid logic and either defend or oppose Gould's position.

Essay Topic 3

Act 1 discusses the new Burgess Shale animal, Opabinia. Pick one other animal and then write a thorough essay that compares and contrasts Opabinia with the other animal. Compile at least three major examples provided by Gould's book that examine their similarities and differences.

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