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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 8.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Does the author believe that all people should act selfishly?
(a) No, he believes people should try to overcome selfish natural tendancies.
(b) Yes, he believes selfish behavior has positive results.
(c) No, and he believes people will not naturally act selfishly.
(d) Yes, he believes that selfish behavior is natural and therefore good, despite negative results.

2. According to the relatedness calculations in the book, how closely related is an individual to a cousin?
(a) One.
(b) One-quarter.
(c) One-eighth.
(d) One-sixth.

3. According to Dawkins, is there a genetic reason to favor one child over others?
(a) No, but there are circumstantial reasons.
(b) Yes, but these genetic reasons are unusual.
(c) Yes, different children have different genetic relatedness to parents.
(d) No, there are no genetic or other reasons to favor one child.

4. What is the smallest unit that is reproduced and carried on through natural selection?
(a) A chromosome.
(b) A DNA strand.
(c) A cell.
(d) A gene.

5. What kind of animals does the intruder retreat experiment by Niko Tinbergen use?
(a) Rats.
(b) Worms.
(c) Birds.
(d) Fish.

Short Answer Questions

1. What would give longevity to early self-duplicating molecules, according to Dawkins?

2. In the science fiction story Dawkins cites, is the machine created by the instructions beneficial or dangerous?

3. How common does Dawkins say doubt about evolution is?

4. In Dawkins' example, why might an older child give up food for a younger sibling?

5. In Dawkins' metaphor about DNA, how does he describe the creation of new DNA by sexual reproduction?

(see the answer key)

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