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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where did the dodo live?

2. Who was Truganini?

3. How would you describe Quammen's style?

4. What was Carl Jones trying to rescue in Mauritius?

5. What does Quammen says Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace had in common?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Quammen say about the overall pattern of the Persian rug?

2. What took David Quammen to Madagascar?

3. What was MacArthur and Wilson's contribution to island biogeography?

4. List the attributes that govern the survivability of individual species in island ecosystems.

5. What practical assertion does Quammen say Frank Preston made based on his findings?

6. How did David Wallace make his start as a biologist, in Quammen's narrative?

7. What are the different terms Quammen describes for how people have accounted for the degradation of ecosystems?

8. What other Mauritius species does Quammen describe?

9. What examples does Quammen use of dispersal ability?

10. What concept did Wallace develop in the Malay Archipelago?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Evaluate your own reading of 'The Song of the Dodo'--did you resist it, or were you compelled by the story? What does your reading tell you about yourself and your interests? Use specific examples from the book to describe yourself as a reader.

Essay Topic 2

Why does Quammen minimize Darwin's accomplishment as the founder of the theory of evolution? What does he benefit by debunking Darwin's accomplishment? Is it attraction to the underdog position, do you think? Was Wallace rely a superior scientist? Is Quammen just being contentious?

Essay Topic 3

How realistic is this book? What parts are not believable? What leaps of faith does the author require of the reader?

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This section contains 683 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample