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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. Who newly interpreted the Burgess animals in 1971?

2. How does Gould begin Chapter 2: "A Background for the Burgess Shale"?

3. What did Gould describe as characteristic of arthropods?

4. After publishing his first monograph, which two graduate students did Whittington employ?

5. What is the Burgess Shale?

Short Essay Questions

1. What evidence favors Opabinia's uniqueness?

2. What sorts of new procedures did Whittington's team use?

3. What is the definition of decimation in the relation to the evolution of life?

4. What did Stephen Jay Gould desire to use the Burgess Shale for?

5. What special insight or perspective does the Burgess Shale offer?

6. What is the boundary between the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras famous?

7. How did Whittington try to uncover the bodily appendages of Opabinia?

8. How does Gould begin Chapter 2: A Background for the Burgess Shale?

9. What did Leif Størmer decide to do in contrast to Walcott?

10. Why did Whittington approach Yohoia less conservatively?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gould examines how Whittington gave upon the Trilobitoidea class. In your own words, summarize why Whittington threw out the Trilobitoidea class. Support your summary with two examples taken from any of the chapters in the book.

Essay Topic 2

In Act 4, there is a drama concerning trilobites, Whittington and Naraoia. Explain the relationship between the three by citing three examples from the book as evidence. In addition, answer the following questions. What is the history of their relationship? How does the book conclude the discussion of their relationship and how is this significant?

Essay Topic 3

Act 1 discusses the differences between Leif Størmer's explanation of the Burgess arthropods in his Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology and Walcott's narrow groupings of arthropod phylums. Compile at least three examples provided by Gould's book that examine their similarities and differences.

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This section contains 630 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample