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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. How was Whittington inclined to see Opabinia?

2. What kind of category was it?

3. What is the classification of animal species specifically warned to not be made on alone?

4. What is the subtitle for this segment of the book?

5. What does the second stage of contingency describe?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did classifying Naraoia pose a problem for Whittington?

2. What does Gould argue about the classification of the Canadaspis?

3. What is uniquely special about the discovery of Sanctacaris?

4. What does Gould note about the Burgess work and the Whittington, Briggs and Simon team?

5. What new species does the fourth act concentrate on?

6. What did Leanchoilica look like?

7. Why is David Burton's published monograph on Sidneyia an important milestone?

8. What must the next generation do with the Burgess Shale?

9. Why wasn't the discovery of the Burgess Shale and its consequent new shift in perspective a gradual change?

10. How does Gould describe the relationship between Oxford advisors and their students?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chapter 3 examines the levels of the taxonomy of life. Describe four of these levels with examples from each and then explain the system of classification that Whittington used for the Burgess Shale animals. Answer why it is important for paleontologists to classify specimens. Support your argument with at least two logical examples.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Chapter 2 focuses on the myth of the laboratory and of field work. What does Gould have to say about the myths behind these work stations? Discuss three examples that explain how Gould presents these working stations as mythic. Also, determine the similarities and differences between laboratory and field work.

(see the answer keys)

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