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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What is a "war of attrition" based on in ESS?
(a) How often a goal will be abandoned.
(b) How much time and energy a goal is worth.
(c) The amount of will and effort it takes to achieve a goal.
(d) How many possible routes there are to a particular goal.

3. What would molecules that grouped and built protective walls around themselves become?
(a) Animals.
(b) Single-celled organisms.
(c) Plants.
(d) Inorganic materials.

4. In Dawkins' discussion, what does he consider alleles to be, relative to genes?
(a) Understudies.
(b) Immaterial extras.
(c) Cooperative partners.
(d) Rivals.

5. What does Dawkins point out about antelopes' herd behavior?
(a) The herd behavior is not an adaptation.
(b) The herd behavior is fot the good of the species.
(c) The herd behavior sacrifices an individual for the species survival.
(d) The herd behavior gives indidivuals a better chance of survival.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Dawkins argue for communication being selfish?

2. What does Dawkins say readers can think of DNA as?

3. What would competition between early self-copying molecules be over?

4. Why does Dawkins say kind or cooperative behavior arises?

5. What two opposites does Dawkins say he is examining the biology of?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dawkins say would be a natural extension of valuing one's own species more than other species?

2. How does Dawkins say that DNA differs from blueprints for making a building?

3. What are the main actions living organisms do, as gene machines?

4. Describe "crossing over."

5. According to Dawkins, what happened to self-copying molecules that were less successful?

6. How does Dawkins view many-celled life forms?

7. What does Dawkins say that the book will tell about the argument of nature versus nurture?

8. What examples does Dawkins give of humanity's valuation of its own species?

9. How does Dawkins view whether fidelity is important to evolution?

10. In Dawkins' metaphor about DNA, what is the role of page numbers?

(see the answer keys)

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