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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 is one of the first tasks of the paleontologist after producing a clear specimen?

2. In what fashion was the Burgess Shale actually discovered?

3. What cost comes with accepting Gould's picture of human evolution?

4. What does Gould represent the original interpretation as?

5. What kinds of versions does the story of the Burgess Shale's discovery have?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is the definition of decimation in the relation to the evolution of life?

4. What evidence favors Opabinia's uniqueness?

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 2

In Act 4, there is a drama concerning trilobites, Whittington and Naraoia. Explain the relationship between the three by citing three examples from the book as evidence. In addition, answer the following questions. What is the history of their relationship? How does the book conclude the discussion of their relationship and how is this significant?

Essay Topic 3

In Act 2, Gould discusses Whittington's shocking discovery after dissecting Opabinia's carapace. First, explain what the discovery was. Second, explain the discovery's significance for scientific research as a whole, and for the Burgess Shale in particular.

(see the answer keys)

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