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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 did 1971 through 1978 bring for Whittington?

2. What stage of contingency does the book focus on most?

3. What does Chapter 4 argue that the story of history is about?

4. How many general Burgess revisions did we acquire?

5. What five new species did Morris find?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How is Whittington inclined to see Opabinia during his initial observations?

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

4. What did Sanctacaris look like?

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

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

7. What did Collins do when faced with the prevention of Des Collins excavation of Walcott's quarry?

8. What sort of series does Chapter 4: Walcott's Vision and the Nature of History transition to and why?

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

10. Why did the Burgess Shale drama become a denouement by 1978?

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

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 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?

(see the answer keys)

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