1. To what does the author attribute the lack of heart disease in the population of Roseto, Pennsylvania? What other possible antecedent variables are controlled for, and explained away as not being factors? 2. In which month are more Canadian professional hockey players born than any other? Why is this? Explain this effect clearly, and specifically. Make no assumptions that I know what you are implying. State each stage of causation clearly. 3. Why does the author claim it is so important that Bill Joy, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates were born in the mid-1950s? Also, what specific advantages did Bill Joy receive that the author claims were important to him becoming so significant in the world of computing that he helped re-create the Unix operating system? 4. Clearly define threshold effect in abstract terms, in your own words. Give three specific examples from the book, dealing with different criteria. 5. Explain how the author describes the culture of honor and explain why it occurred in the Appalachian Mountains, in the 19th century, but not in many other places. Where else is this effect common in the United States today? 6. Explain the concept of Power Distance Index (PDI). Clearly explain the mechanism of how it affects safety in commercial aviation. 7. How does wet rice agriculture relate to mathematics aptitude? Hint: they work hard is not sufficient answer. Explain the connection between work ethic and success at mathematics, as explained by the author.
