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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. Where did Collins find another dig site?

2. Why did Whittington's next classification pose a problem?

3. What are the two Ps?

4. Which are the names of three rare arthropods in the Shale?

5. What does the second stage of contingency describe?

Short Essay Questions

1. How can Odaraia be described?

2. What must the next generation do with the Burgess Shale?

3. What new view did Whittington hold after working on Naraoia?

4. What does Gould argue about the classification of the Canadaspis?

5. How does the book describe Derek Briggs and Simon Conway Morris as students of Oxford?

6. How did Naraoia contribute to the Burgess Drama?

7. What new species does the fourth act concentrate on?

8. Why wasn't the discovery of the Burgess Shale and its consequent new shift in perspective a gradual change?

9. What did Sanctacaris look like?

10. Why is David Burton's published monograph on Sidneyia an important milestone?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gould promotes the idea that evolution cannot hold up under intensive examination. First, examine evolution as a theory. Second, examine it as a theory in the context of the Burgess Shale. Support your agreement or disagreement with at least two logical reasons with solid examples. Can the conception of evolution hold up under intensive examination? Why or why not?

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

In Chapter 2, Gould discusses the two interpretations of the Burgess Shale, one known as true, and the other known as inaccurate. Using the book for context and description, tell these two different stories in your own words and explain their importance. Be sure to discuss the setting, storyline, and characters which are involved in the two interpretations. Also, answer why Gould chooses to relate the inaccurate version of the Burgess Shale's discovery, as well as the true version.

(see the answer keys)

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