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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. How common does Dawkins say doubt about evolution is?
(a) He says it's nonexistent.
(b) He says it's common.
(c) He says it's rare.
(d) He says it's in everyone.

2. What molecules does Dawkins say existed in ancient seas and formed amino acids?
(a) Carbon dioxide, nitrogen, sulfur, and amonia.
(b) Water, carbon dioxide, methane, and amonia.
(c) Methane, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
(d) Water, nitrogen, hydrogen, and sulfur.

3. What is the most stable result of the specific ESS simulation Dawkins describes?
(a) A 1:4 mixture of two kinds of behavior.
(b) A 3:2 mixture of two kinds of behavior.
(c) A 7:5 mixture of two kinds of behavior.
(d) A 1:1 mixture of two kinds of behavior.

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

5. 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) Yes, he believes that selfish behavior is natural and therefore good, despite negative results.
(d) No, and he believes people will not naturally act selfishly.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Dawkins' discussion, what does he consider alleles to be, relative to genes?

2. How many nucleotide chains are in DNA?

3. What behavior does the author cite about how elephant seals relate to rivals?

4. What would molecules that grouped and built protective walls around themselves become?

5. Does the author believe that genetically inherited traits cannot be changed?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Explain Dawkins' argument for why cannibalism is very rare.

3. What two ways does Dawkins picture that the first self-copying molecule might copy itself?

4. How do animals become active and quicker than plants?

5. How are the beginning and end of genes in DNA marked?

6. In war of attrition scenarios, what is the best bet for individual behavior, according to Dawkins' reports?

7. Describe the behavior of chains of atoms in human blood, as Dawkins describes it.

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

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

10. Explain why Dawkins speculates that cannibalism might make sense within his selfish gene theory.

(see the answer keys)

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