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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Quammen say about Wilson and Macarthur's 'The Theory of Island Biogeography'?
(a) It was doubted at the time it was published.
(b) Its effect was not felt for years.
(c) It was practically unnoticed.
(d) It was a book that changed things.

2. What objection did Simberloff and Abele raise?
(a) That the theory had been accepted through personal influence of major thinkers, not because of its predictive ability.
(b) That the data was not thoroughly tested.
(c) That there were inconsistencies in the data.
(d) That the theory still needed to be tested in more and different environments.

3. What does Lawrence Abele study?
(a) Coral.
(b) Tasmanian tigers.
(c) Birds.
(d) Komodo dragons.

4. What was the state of Lovejoy's plan when Quammen visited the sites with him?
(a) No conclusions had been reached.
(b) Lovejoy had determined the ideal number of acres for a nature reserve.
(c) Lovejoy had determined to make nature reserves as large as possible.
(d) Lovejoy had determined to make many small reserves in an area, allowing development.

5. When did the Mauritius kestrel population begin to decline?
(a) 1930s.
(b) 1990s.
(c) 1970s.
(d) 1950s.

6. What factor did NOT cause the decline of the kestrel population?
(a) Feather collectors.
(b) Insecticides.
(c) Predators eating the kestrel eggs.
(d) Habitat loss.

7. What is the literary term for the final chapter?
(a) Epigram.
(b) Epilogue.
(c) Prologue.
(d) Epigraph.

8. Why, according to Quammen, is the theory of equilibrium important to science?
(a) Because it is a model for human populations.
(b) Because it applies to mainland populations.
(c) Because it models species extinction worldwide.
(d) Because it can be used to predict human emigrations.

9. Whose reactions does Quammen record, in relation to Bedo's death?
(a) Hunters.
(b) Scientists.
(c) Villagers.
(d) Poachers.

10. What condition would help a species breed out harmful genes?
(a) Isolation.
(b) Exposure to many similar species.
(c) Widespread breeding.
(d) Inbreeding.

11. What was Quammen told to find, in order to observe this species?
(a) The cliffs where they perched.
(b) The tree where they gathered.
(c) The lakes where they built nests.
(d) The burrows where they lived.

12. How does Quammen describe Aru?
(a) Interconnected.
(b) Isolated.
(c)
(d) Urban.

13. What data does William Newmark look at in his studies?
(a) Species census in U.S. natural reserves.
(b) Bird sightings in U.S. migrations.
(c) Fisheries census.
(d) Wildlife sightings in natural parks.

14. How was the minimum viable population theory applied in Texas?
(a) Officials wanted to create an open season for hunting mountain lions.
(b) Officials wanted to know if a dam would destroy too much habitat for an endangered snake.
(c) Officials wanted to determine how much development could take place without damaging the viability of a species of water bird.
(d) Officials wanted to know how many invasive fish they would have to kill off to collapse the population.

15. What did Wilson and MacArthur postulate according to Quammen?
(a) That extinctions followed a predictable timeline following colonization.
(b) That extinction only began when began to travel to new islands.
(c) That extinction was a regular event on islands.
(d) That once an island developed a full range of species, extinction was rare.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Quammen distinguish the Mauritius kestrel from other species that might need to be saved?

2. What factors did Simberloff and Abele cite in their challenge to Wilson and MacArthur's hypothesis?

3. What did Wilson and MacArthur argue influenced the number of species on an island?

4. What was Bedo's reputation?

5. Why were people cutting down the forests in the place where Lovejoy implemented his plan?

(see the answer keys)

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