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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 are Derek Briggs and Simon Conway Morris described as?

2. What did Morris push Whittington to do?

3. What kind of category was it?

4. What did Anomalocaris appear to represent?

5. What is the subtitle for this segment of the book?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Sanctacaris look like?

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

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

4. What other monographs were published in 1981 concerning the Burgess Shale and by who?

5. How did Naraoia contribute to the Burgess Drama?

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

7. How can Odaraia be described?

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

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

10. What does Morris find that is so shocking?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Since a team controls research data, it's important that each member function in unison. Answer the following question: Is the diversity of Whittington's team a strength or a weakness? Discuss three ways in which their diversity is a strength or a weakness. Use material from the entire book to support your examples.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout Chapter 3 and Act 1, Gould delves into discussions of dominant paradigms. Cite three dominant paradigms, from any time period, that were associated with the Burgess Shale. Explain how these paradigms were discovered to be true or false. Explain you arguments with solid reasoning.

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 1, Gould expresses the opinion that accepting his interpretation of the Burgess Shale has a psychological cost for humanity. Explain why Gould believes this and disagree or agree with his statement. Cite at least three reasons that support your argument.

(see the answer keys)

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