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