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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 appendages did Yohoia have?

2. What did Whittington use to dissect the carapace of Opabinia?

3. How was Walcott's taxonomy significantly updated?

4. When was the boundary between the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras?

5. What is the Burgess Shale composed of?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are the Burgess Shale's arthropod designs odd?

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

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

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

5. Name four levels of the taxonomy of life.

6. How did Walcott's taxonomy have to be significantly updated?

7. What is Chapter 3: Reconstruction of the Burgess Shale: Toward a New View of Life about?

8. What was the difference between Simon Conway Morris and Whittington in the way that they worked?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

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

Gould disagrees with Whittington regarding the significance of Aysehaia. Explain this disagreement in your own words. Use two examples from the book to illustrate the significance of Aysehaia, Whittington's position, and Gould's dissent.

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