- 1. The Ant and the Peacock by Helena Cronin is a fascinating exploration of sexual selection and the evolutionary dynamics that shape the behavior and characteristics of different species. In this thought-provoking work, Cronin delves into the contrasting lives of ants, which are structured and highly cooperative, and peacocks, which exhibit extravagant displays to attract mates. Through her engaging narrative, she examines the implications of these contrasting reproductive strategies and how they reflect broader patterns in evolution and natural history. The book weaves together insights from biology, ecology, and sociology, highlighting how the traits that favor survival and reproduction can vary dramatically across different organisms. With a mix of scientific analysis and storytelling, Cronin invites readers to consider the intricate balance between survival instincts and the cost of attracting a mate, ultimately revealing how these processes have shaped the animal kingdom in unpredictable ways.
What evolutionary puzzle does the 'peacock' represent?
A) Bird migration patterns
B) Feather molting process
C) Sexual selection and elaborate traits
D) Avian vocalizations
- 2. Which concept explains why sterile worker ants help their queen?
A) Kin selection
B) Natural selection
C) Group selection
D) Sexual selection
- 3. Who proposed the theory of kin selection discussed in the book?
A) Charles Darwin
B) Richard Dawkins
C) W.D. Hamilton
D) John Maynard Smith
- 4. What is Hamilton's rule?
A) E=mc²
B) rB > C
C) F=ma
D) PV=nRT
- 5. Which scientist originally struggled to explain the peacock's tail?
A) Thomas Huxley
B) Gregor Mendel
C) Alfred Russel Wallace
D) Charles Darwin
- 6. The handicap principle is associated with which researcher?
A) E.O. Wilson
B) Stephen Jay Gould
C) Ronald Fisher
D) Amotz Zahavi
- 7. What does the handicap principle suggest about elaborate traits?
A) They aid in hunting
B) They conserve energy
C) They signal genetic quality
D) They provide camouflage
- 8. Fisher's runaway selection explains what?
A) Bird flight evolution
B) Extreme sexual ornaments
C) Ant foraging behavior
D) Insect metamorphosis
- 9. Which book by Richard Dawkins expands on these ideas?
A) The Selfish Gene
B) The Extended Phenotype
C) The God Delusion
D) The Blind Watchmaker
- 10. Cronin's book primarily discusses developments in which century?
A) 19th century
B) 18th century
C) 20th century
D) 21st century
- 11. What is reciprocal altruism?
A) Helping with expectation of return
B) Mother-offspring care
C) Random helping behavior
D) Forced cooperation
- 12. Who wrote 'The Selfish Gene'?
A) Charles Darwin
B) W.D. Hamilton
C) Helena Cronin
D) Richard Dawkins
- 13. Who developed ESS theory?
A) John Maynard Smith
B) W.D. Hamilton
C) Robert Trivers
D) Amotz Zahavi
- 14. Who proposed parental investment theory?
A) Richard Dawkins
B) E.O. Wilson
C) Robert Trivers
D) Charles Darwin
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