1. The Math Instinct Review

3. Locate Tunisia

4. List 5 interesting facts about Tunisia

5. The Math Instinct Author – Keith Devlin
What is the GENRE of the story? __________________
CHARACTERISTICS: 1. 2. 3.

6. Analysis 1. Define Dead Reckoning. 2. Who is the main character in the
text? What is he?

7. What are Tunisian Ants?

9. Analysis…
3. What is so remarkable about Ahmed? 4. What may have obliterated Ahmed’s footprints in the sand? a. a person b. the rain c. camel footprints d. the wind

10. Analysis…(Cont’d)
5. What is the original term that Dead Reckoning comes from? 6. Explain why the use of dead reckoning served as the impetus for the development of accurate clocks.

11. Analysis…(Cont’d)
7. In lines 52–57, identify the subjects that the author compares and contrasts. 8. What is the word that signals the comparison?

12. Analysis…(Cont’d)
9. Draw a map of what the Tunisian ant does to search for food and return home.

13. Analysis…(Cont’d)
10. In lines 52–57, identify the subjects that the author compares and contrasts. 11. What is the word that signals the comparison? 12. Explain how Devlin supports the idea that desert ants use dead reckoning.

14. Analysis…(Cont’d) 13. Compare the way humans and Tunisian ants learn to carry out mathematical navigation.

15. Analysis…(Cont’d)
14. Identify the familiar modern-day object Devlin compares with Ahmed’s brain. a. a calculator b. a compass c. a computer d. a microscope 15. What human ability does Devlin compare with Ahmed’s actions?

16. Analysis…(Cont’d)
16. Define trivial a. unimportant b. informative c. insignificant d. both a and c 17. Why is the desert ant’s navigational instinct not trivial?

17. Analysis…(Cont’d)
18. Name the abilities that are probably not part of the Tunisian ant’s repertoire. 19. How is the development of dead reckoning different between humans and Tunisian ants?