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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the author note about studies done on woodpeckers?
(a) Woodpecker traits are found plentifully in other bird species and most of the traits necessary to be a woodpecker have come together only once during evolution
(b) Woodpecker traits are found plentifully in other bird species and yet all of the traits necessary to be a woodpecker have come together only once during evolution.
(c) Woodpecker traits are only found in other bird species.
(d) Woodpecker traits are found only slightly in other bird species and yet all of the traits necessary to be a woodpecker have come together only once during evolution.

2. What is today's human population?
(a) Over fifteen million.
(b) Over five million.
(c) Over five billion.
(d) Over fifty billion.

3. Are smoking, drinking, and drug use universal human traits?
(a) Only in the Western world.
(b) No.
(c) Only in Third World countries.
(d) Yes.

4. What does the author do in the Epilogue?
(a) He recapitulates the major themes of the text.
(b) He starts a new theme.
(c) He avoids discussing the future of mankind.
(d) He gives his opinion about the history of man.

5. Why do gazelles exhibit this behavior?
(a) It tricks the lion into thinking that the gazelle is injured.
(b) It helps the gazelle escape the lion.
(c) It allows the gazelle to communicate to the lion that it is aware of the lion and can easily escape.
(d) It convinces the lion that the gazelle is strong and fast.

6. What enabled Europeans to pursue their conquests?
(a) They had more people than the native people.
(b) They were more powerful and more intelligent.
(c) They had a better understanding about the natural world around them.
(d) They carried social diseases, had better technology, used advanced writing, and featured large-scale political organizations.

7. What was discovered on this expedition?
(a) Thousands of people known as the Canari.
(b) Hundreds of people known as the Dani.
(c) Hundreds of people known as the Canari.
(d) Thousands of people known as the Dani.

8. By what do many suggest that today's societal ills could be eliminated?
(a) Enjoy the present, since there is not much hope in the future.
(b) Look to the past as a way to learn from previous mistakes.
(c) A return to a fondly remembered era of peace and environmental purity.
(d) Working toward a better future and an era of peace and environmental purity.

9. Within about 1,000 years what had these people done?
(a) Arrived in North America.
(b) Gone extinct.
(c) Colonized North and South America.
(d) Travelled to Central America.

10. What is the result of this evidence?
(a) Several dozen "words" which are considered likely to be very similar to the original language.
(b) Several hundred "words" which are considered likely to be very similar to the original language.
(c) Several thousand "words" which are considered likely to be very similar to the original language.
(d) Several "words" which are considered likely to be very similar to the original language.

11. In nearly every historic case, what happened to the native people following first contact?
(a) They suffered dramatically.
(b) They suffer less.
(c) They became more technologically developed.
(d) They overpower the other culture.

12. What languages dominate the world?
(a) Indonesian derived languages.
(b) Indo-European derived languages.
(c) Asian derived languages.
(d) European derived languages.

13. What did some European inhabitants of Australia argue should be carried out in Australia?
(a) Less genocide.
(b) More assimilation.
(c) A similar genocide.
(d) Less assimilation.

14. What did the Europeans do to these people?
(a) They encouraged them to take on European traditions and ideals in a matter of a few years.
(b) They eliminated them entirely over several years through a process called genocide.
(c) They assimilated with them over a period of several years.
(d) They eliminated them entirely over a period of a year through a process called genocide.

15. One percent of North American birds have become extinct since what year?
(a) 1800.
(b) 1700.
(c) 1600.
(d) 1500.

Short Answer Questions

1. Does the epilogue offer a particularly hopeful look toward the future?

2. What is the term for the extinction of these animals due to hunting?

3. How many examples of positive change are noted?

4. What did European animals include?

5. What is it called when a gazelle sees a lion stalking it and does not run?

(see the answer keys)

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