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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. When did prokaryotic cells exist?

2. What did 1971 through 1978 bring for Whittington?

3. What does Opabinia need?

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

5. What is the first subtitle for the Act 5 chapter?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How can Odaraia be described?

3. What did Leanchoilica look like?

4. Why does Gould deplore the prevention of Des Collins excavation of Walcot's quarry?

5. How does Gould describe the relationship between Oxford advisors and their students?

6. What is uniquely special about the discovery of Sanctacaris?

7. What did Sanctacaris look like?

8. How did Naraoia contribute to the Burgess Drama?

9. What does Gould note about the Burgess work and the Whittington, Briggs and Simon team?

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

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 2

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 3

Chapter 3 examines the levels of the taxonomy of life. Describe four of these levels with examples from each and then explain the system of classification that Whittington used for the Burgess Shale animals. Answer why it is important for paleontologists to classify specimens. Support your argument with at least two logical examples.

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