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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 is Charles Monet originally from?

2. Where had Peter Cardinal and Charles Monet both been before they got sick?

3. What is a "hatbox"?

4. Why did Peter Cardinal want to go to Kitum Cave?

5. What are the classic signs of Ebola in all primates?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is veterinary pathology?

2. Explain how viruses are both considered "alive" and "dead".

3. What is unusual about the house where Nancy Jaax lives?

4. How does the mixing of monkey species relate to the idea of HIV's origin?

5. What disturbs Dan Dalgard at the end of Part 2, Chapter 2?

6. Why did Ebola Zaire affect mainly women?

7. Why are crab-eating macaques described as "competitors" of humans in their natural environment?

8. Describe what Tom Geisbert sees in his cell samples.

9. Why are the workers burning the fields? What impact could this have on the migration of microbes and the biodiversity of an area?

10. What is the military and political crisis that Peters worries about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The central conflict in the book can be seen as "humans vs. nature" and Ebola and Marburg virus can be considered main characters/antagonists in the book, and Preston explains that viruses could be seen as either dead or alive.

a. Using examples from the text, explain how Preston personifies viruses.

b. Preston suggests that viruses are more like predators than parasites. Explain this distinction, then describe whether you agree with it or not.

c. Explain how viruses can be both dead and alive. How would you define life? Would you consider a virus to be alive? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

What is the importance of the Rift Valley in the evolution and development of humans? How have environmental changes in this area of the world possibly contributed to the spread of disease? What, if anything, can be done to reverse these trends?

Essay Topic 3

Many emerging viruses come from Africa, and have affected Africans for centuries. Still, they were not officially identified until Americans or Europeans were affected by them.

a. Why do you think this is?

b. Explain at least two examples of this from the book.

c. Do you think this will help or hinder the search for the natural host of Ebola?

(see the answer keys)

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