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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. When Kolbert visits the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ location in Chicago soon after her cruise down the sewage canal, she meets with whom?

2. What does Kolbert find at LSU’s Center for River Studies?

3. In Kolbert’s observations in and near Chicago, Asian carp, when caught, are then processed into what?

4. How deep is Devil’s Hole at its deepest?

5. Why was electric shock chosen to deter the fish?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Kolbert inspired by Gates?

2. What do most of the Australians Kolbert spoke to think about the future of the Great Barrier Reef?

3. What is William Lewis Manly's role in the discovery of Devils Hole?

4. What have humans done to save species on the brink of extinction?

5. What has happened to Isle de Jean Charles?

6. Why were Asian carp brought over to the U.S.?

7. What is the solution chosen for dealing with the Asian carp problem in and around Chicago?

8. What are crevasses, and why do a group of engineers want to create man-made ones?

9. When do the majority of scientists believe the Anthropocene Age began?

10. How is an atoll formed?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kolbert compares a night in the Las Vegas Paris to Devils Hole Jr. What is the comparison that is made? Why does she make this comparison? What does this reveal about her opinion regarding manmade habitats?

Essay Topic 2

Kolbert mentions that most Australians she spoke to realize that saving the Great Barrier Reef is impossible, and they are hoping for saving an Okay Barrier Reef. What are your thoughts on this comment? How do you feel about a world of okay nature? What might this mean for mankind’s future?

Essay Topic 3

Kolbert mentions that most of the carbon dioxide humans have emitted would eventually turn to stone. If this is the case, do we need to be concerned about carbon dioxide emissions? Why or why not? Do the scientists Kolbert interviews regarding emissions factor this in when talking about their ideas for reducing emissions or removing emissions? Why or why not? What might Kolbert think about the natural chemical weathering process, based on her comments in Up in the Air, Chapter 1?

(see the answer keys)

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