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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 compose eras?

2. What bizarre features does Opabinia possess?

3. What does Gould focus on to bring the Burgess Shale into clear view?

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

5. After publishing his first monograph, which two graduate students did Whittington employ?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How is the Precambrian Era defined?

4. How is the Marrella splendens described in relation to the other Burgess Shale fossils?

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

6. What dominant paradigm about the Burgess fossils was Whittington pressured to conform to?

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

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

9. What did Whittington find Opabinia to actually be?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 1, Gould examines Walcott's inaccurate interpretation of the ladder and cone convention. Using this example, and others found in Chapter 1 or 2, agree or disagree with the following question: does Gould or Walcott present a more convincing argument concerning the ladder and cone interpretation? Present your paper with an arguable thesis that uses three solid examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

Gould argues that Canadaspis' classification as a crustacean is crucial. Summarize Gould's argument and then, using at least three examples from the book, argue for or against Gould's position.

Essay Topic 3

Gould examines how Whittington gave upon the Trilobitoidea class. In your own words, summarize why Whittington threw out the Trilobitoidea class. Support your summary with two examples taken from any of the chapters in the book.

(see the answer keys)

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