Saturday, September 1, 2012

THE GARDEN OF OUR NEGLECT: HOW HUMANS SHAPE THE EVOLUTION OF OTHER SPECIES


By: Rob Dunn
Published: Scientific American, July 5, 2012; http://www.scientificamerican.com ; alternatively, just google the article and writer’s name.
Level of difficulty: **
BEFORE YOU READ
Discuss how you feel mankind may have shaped the evolution of other species. Make a note of your ideas so as to be able to compare them with what you learn from the text.
QUESTIONS
1.       What two discoveries helped shape the course of human evolution?
2.       What does the phrase “these species” in paragraph two refer to?
3.       The extinction of many of the larger species on Earth is blamed on the human discovery of …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4.       The completely unique structure of the human hand is due to ……………………………………………
5.       The fishermen’s preference for large fish has resulted in …………………………………………………….
6.       Hundreds of bacterial lineages have developed resistance to modern drugs due mainly to what?
7.       It is stated in paragraph seven that “The virus that makes you sick is almost inevitably different than the one you give someone”. What is the basic reason for this? Be brief and specific.
8.       In paragraph eight it is stated that “2.3 kg of pesticides” are used annually to control pests. What has the result of this method of farming been? Be brief and specific.
9.       What are the two tactics employed by plants we call weeds to survive?
10.   The rapid evolution of tolerant and at least sometimes toxic creatures is due to ………………….and ……………………………….such as………………………………………………………………….
11.   What is neophobia? Use your own words.
12.   There is an evolutionary change taking place in rats which is also documented in the case of bacteria, wild plants and weeds. It is ………………………………………………… Use your own words.
13.   What does “this type of quick evolution” in paragraph nine refer to?
14.   Read paragraph ten carefully and summarize it in one sentence. Use your own words.
15.   Read the conclusion to the text. What advice does the writer offer mankind?
WRITING TASK
Summarize the text in a 100 to 150 words

THE GARDEN OF OUR NEGLECT: HOW HUMANS SHAPE THE EVOLUTION OF OTHER SPECIES KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
This simple yet informative text offered me the opportunity to write some good careful reading questions albeit at a simple level. The task will enable students to grow accustomed to the reasoning behind careful reading questions. Question 6 is a tough one, questions 11 and 14 will prepare them for those multiple choice questions we get on tests (my version is harder), questions 7 and 8 will give them practice in synthesis. Because of all the common threads running through the text, it is a brilliant opportunity for summary practice. When they are all done, you might like to use a laptop and projector or the good old board to write one together. So all round, I am very pleased with this and hope you concur.
1.       Fire and tools
2.       A surprising number of resilient pests
3.     (First)  Stone weapons
4.       Tools or the use of tools
5.       Fishes evolving the ability to reproduce at a smaller size.
6.       Using antibiotics too much, too incompletely or too indiscriminately
7.       Viruses generally evolve even more quickly than bacteria.
8.       Resistance (to pesticides).
9.       The evolution of multiple lineages of weeds resembling our crops; resistance to herbicides.
10.   PCB, many of our pollutants, heavy metals, cadmium, oil and others.
11.   Possible answer: Being unwilling to try new food.
12.   Resistance to chemicals used to exterminate them. This answer should cover not just rats but bacteria, weeds and wild plants too. It is all encompassing.
13.   Producing fewer larger seeds that fall near them.
14.   Possible answer: Animals that humans have moved to different parts of the world have evolved to adapt to their new habitats.
15.   It is time to use our knowledge of evolution and its well worn paths to cultivate a new garden as we plan our future, one seeded with species that benefit rather than harm us.

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