- 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) Feather molting process
B) Sexual selection and elaborate traits
C) Bird migration patterns
D) Avian vocalizations
- 2. Which concept explains why sterile worker ants help their queen?
A) Group selection
B) Sexual selection
C) Natural selection
D) Kin selection
- 3. Who proposed the theory of kin selection discussed in the book?
A) John Maynard Smith
B) W.D. Hamilton
C) Richard Dawkins
D) Charles Darwin
- 4. What is Hamilton's rule?
A) E=mc²
B) PV=nRT
C) rB > C
D) F=ma
- 5. Which scientist originally struggled to explain the peacock's tail?
A) Charles Darwin
B) Gregor Mendel
C) Thomas Huxley
D) Alfred Russel Wallace
- 6. The handicap principle is associated with which researcher?
A) Ronald Fisher
B) Stephen Jay Gould
C) Amotz Zahavi
D) E.O. Wilson
- 7. What does the handicap principle suggest about elaborate traits?
A) They signal genetic quality
B) They aid in hunting
C) They conserve energy
D) They provide camouflage
- 8. Fisher's runaway selection explains what?
A) Bird flight evolution
B) Extreme sexual ornaments
C) Insect metamorphosis
D) Ant foraging behavior
- 9. Which book by Richard Dawkins expands on these ideas?
A) The God Delusion
B) The Selfish Gene
C) The Blind Watchmaker
D) The Extended Phenotype
- 10. Cronin's book primarily discusses developments in which century?
A) 18th century
B) 19th century
C) 21st century
D) 20th century
- 11. What is reciprocal altruism?
A) Mother-offspring care
B) Helping with expectation of return
C) Forced cooperation
D) Random helping behavior
- 12. Who wrote 'The Selfish Gene'?
A) W.D. Hamilton
B) Charles Darwin
C) Helena Cronin
D) Richard Dawkins
- 13. Who developed ESS theory?
A) Amotz Zahavi
B) Robert Trivers
C) W.D. Hamilton
D) John Maynard Smith
- 14. Who proposed parental investment theory?
A) Robert Trivers
B) E.O. Wilson
C) Charles Darwin
D) Richard Dawkins
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