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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. What does Dawkins demonstrate using the net benefit score?
(a) That it is to an organism's genes' benefit to alert family members to poisonous food sources.
(b) That it is to an organism's genes' benefit to alert family members to natural hazards.
(c) That it is to an organism's genes' benefit to show relatives that food is available.
(d) That it is to an organism's genes' benefit to alert family members of a predator.

2. What does Dawkins say that Honeyguide chicks do?
(a) Kill other chicks in the nest.
(b) Blackmail parents into getting more food by screaming loud enough to attract predators.
(c) Steal food from other chicks in the nest.
(d) Scream less loud to not attract too much attention to themselves as intruders.

3. In Dawkins' example, why might an older child give up food for a younger sibling?
(a) The child does not need the food as much as the younger sibling.
(b) The parents are more concerned about the older child and ignoring the younger one.
(c) The child is not concerned about its own survival.
(d) The child is more concerned about sibling survival than about its own survival.

4. What does Dawkins believe about human population growth?
(a) That humans should probably limit their population growth.
(b) That human population growth is not a problem.
(c) That humans have no means to limit populations growth.
(d) That human populations growth needs to increase.

5. What does Dawkins mean by a "selfish gene?"
(a) A portion of DNA, copied in mutliple organisms, that modifies behaviors in the organisms that would tend otherwise to be altruistic.
(b) A portion of DNA, copied in mutliple organisms, that "tries" to become the dominant gene by preventing other genes from replicating.
(c) A portion of DNA, copied in multiple organisms, "trying" to survive in ways that will continue to copy and propigate the gene.
(d) A portion of DNA, copied in mutliple organisms, that programs behavior in the individual for self-survival.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Dawkins cite Medawar's study to help explain?

2. How does Dawkins characterize the runt of a litter?

3. What does PI stand for?

4. According to the relatedness calculations in the book, how closely related is an individual to a cousin?

5. How closely related are two sister bees?

Short Essay Questions

1. What two possible explanations for the behavior of the baby swallow observed by the Spanish researchers does Dawkins present?

2. What possible explanation for viruses does Dawkins give?

3. What explanation does Zahavi propose for stotting?

4. According to Dawkins, what selfish behavior might birds that have fewer eggs because of overpopulation exhibit?

5. What examples does Dawkins give of male animals resisting raising offspring that's not their own?

6. What does Dawkins substitute for survival of a species?

7. What is the cuckoo's adaptation to care for its eggs?

8. When and why are gulls' offspring in danger?

9. What theory about parental suffering for children's success does Dawkins describe?

10. Describe Trivers' observations of striped cleaner fish.

(see the answer keys)

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