The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
- 1. The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert is a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of the current biodiversity crisis facing our planet, framed within the context of the five mass extinction events that have occurred throughout Earth's history. Kolbert combines rigorous scientific research with personal narrative as she travels the globe, visiting various ecosystems and engaging with scientists and conservationists who are on the front lines of studying and combating the ongoing extinction of species. Through vivid storytelling, she highlights the alarming rates at which species are disappearing, drawing attention to the role of human activity, such as habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and invasive species, in driving this extinction event. Kolbert’s writing is accessible yet deeply informative, making complex scientific concepts understandable to a broad audience. The book serves as both a wake-up call and a poignant reflection on humanity's impact on the natural world, urging readers to recognize the urgency of the situation and the need for collective action to protect our planet's remaining biodiversity before it's too late.
What is the central theme of 'The Sixth Extinction'?
A) Natural disasters are the primary cause of extinction.
B) Human activity is causing a mass extinction event.
C) Climate change is a natural and unstoppable process.
D) Extinction events are always followed by rapid speciation.
- 2. Kolbert opens the book with the story of which extinct species?
A) The dodo bird.
B) The woolly mammoth.
C) The Panamanian golden frog.
D) The passenger pigeon.
- 3. What is the primary cause of ocean acidification discussed?
A) Absorption of excess atmospheric CO2.
B) Industrial waste dumping.
C) Agricultural fertilizer runoff.
D) Oil spills from tankers.
- 4. What happened to the great auk?
A) It was outcompeted by the puffin.
B) Went extinct due to a volcanic eruption.
C) Hunted to extinction for its feathers, meat, and oil.
D) Its habitat was destroyed by glaciers.
- 5. What is the significance of the bat die-off at a cave in New York?
A) It shows how bats naturally migrate away from disease.
B) It proves bats are immune to most diseases.
C) It was caused by a genetically modified pesticide.
D) It illustrates the rapid spread of a human-introduced fungus.
- 6. What is the 'evil twin' of global warming, as described in the book?
A) Glacial melting.
B) Ozone depletion.
C) Ocean acidification.
D) Deforestation.
- 7. What discovery did Georges Cuvier make that is central to the book?
A) The theory of evolution.
B) The concept of extinction.
C) The structure of DNA.
D) Plate tectonics.
- 8. The book suggests that the sixth extinction is different because it is...
A) Focused only on large land mammals.
B) A predictable, cyclical event.
C) Caused by a single species and is incredibly rapid.
D) The largest extinction event in history.
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