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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In the set of bees Dawkins mentions that deal with this disease, what does a second gene the bees have do?
(a) Cause the bees to eat sick baby bees.
(b) Cause the bees to leave the hive where sick baby bees are.
(c) Cause the bees to crush sick baby bees.
(d) Cause the bees to throw sick baby bees out of the hive.

2. What shape does the author say water molecules in space make?
(a) Spiral.
(b) Elliptical.
(c) Octagonal.
(d) Round.

3. In Dawkins' metaphor about DNA, what does the bookshelf represent?
(a) A chromosome.
(b) A strand of DNA.
(c) A cell nucleus.
(d) A single cell.

4. Why does Dawkins say individuals within a species interact more with each other than with other species?
(a) Because they compete for the same resources using the same tools.
(b) Because they inhabit the same habitat.
(c) Because they need each other to survive.
(d) Because they are more easily recognizable to each other since they are similar.

5. What do the letters A, T, C, and G stand for?
(a) Different types of genes.
(b) Different types of nucleotides.
(c) Different types of RNA.
(d) Different types of DNA.

6. In early reproducing molecules, what is the measure of "success"?
(a) That there are more copies of the molecule, whether they are accurate or not.
(b) That there are more molecules around that are like the molecule.
(c) That there are more chemical reactions that can use the molecule.
(d) That there are fewer ways for the molecule to be destroyed.

7. What hazard does the author identify in killing a rival?
(a) Others might try to revenge the rival.
(b) A stronger rival might take the rival's place.
(c) The attacker might be ostracized for killing the rival.
(d) The rival will no longer be able to cooperate to protect against enemies.

8. What apparently selfish act of the penguin does the author describe?
(a) Shoving each other to see who will fall off a cliff.
(b) Hiding behind other penguins when a predator is spotted.
(c) Stealing food from a baby penguin's mouth.
(d) Stealing other penguins' eggs.

9. In Dawkins' metaphor about DNA, what represents a gene?
(a) A word in a book.
(b) A page in a book.
(c) A line on a page in a book.
(d) A chapter in a book.

10. How does Darwin characterize the idea that the goal of evolution is for a species to survive, so individuals will take actions that are good for the species?
(a) As fundamental to evolution.
(b) As probable.
(c) As a reasonable alternative hypothesis.
(d) As unscientific.

11. In Dawkins' metaphor about DNA, how many books are on the bookshelf?
(a) Twenty-three.
(b) Forty-six.
(c) Fifty-four.
(d) Thirty-two.

12. What does Dawkins describe as "intruder retreat" behavior?
(a) Groups tend to retreat when an intruder is in the area.
(b) The entity intruding into an unknown situation tends to retreat.
(c) Strangers tend to consider each other intruders and retreat.
(d) Entities tend to retreat from aggressive intruders.

13. What does Dawkins postulate would preserve a gene forever?
(a) A gene that caused nothing but remained in the DNA.
(b) A being that passed on all its DNA through sexual reproduction.
(c) An undying being continuing to reproduce.
(d) A being that used only one gene.

14. What does the Watt Governor machine appear to do?
(a) Think.
(b) Scream.
(c) Talk.
(d) Cry.

15. How does the author say that human beings think of their own species?
(a) As a goal that evolution has achieved.
(b) As exempt from the laws of natural selection.
(c) As more imporant than other species.
(d) As able to rise above animal drives.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Dawkins' description, how does a retaliator behave?

2. Why does the author use the word "apparently" to describe selfish or unselfish behavior?

3. What would molecules that broke down other self-copying molecules and used their parts eventually become?

4. What is the most stable type of behavior in the computer simulations of ESS?

5. What would molecules that started to manufacture energy using the sun eventually become?

(see the answer keys)

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