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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who wrote The Mishomis Book?

2. What grew from the breasts of Skywoman's daughter, according to the author in "Epiphany in the Beans"?

3. Among "The Three Sisters," who is the firstborn?

4. What is Lionel's profession, as detailed in "The Honorable Harvest"?

5. Who was the Cherokee writer that pressed a corn leaf pouch into the author's hand years ago, according to the narrative in "The Three Sisters"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What findings did Laurie's thesis produce in “Mishkos Kenomagwen: The Teachings of Grass”?

2. What does the East represent in the Anishinaabe belief system?

3. Why do polycultures often succeed above monocultures?

4. What does domesticity in plants mean?

5. Under what types of conditions do black ash trees grow?

6. What metaphor does Kimmerer offer for the braiding of a basket in “Wisgaak Gokpenagen: A Black Ash Basket”?

7. What are the Three Sisters?

8. How did Laurie's advisors respond to her thesis subject in “Mishkos Kenomagwen: The Teachings of Grass”?

9. What preconceptions did the author have about Lionel? How were they proven wrong?

10. What does the author remark about White Man's Footstep in “In the Footsteps of Nanabozho: Becoming Indigenous to Place"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the botany and relationship of lichen. What is lichen comprised of? How does it interact and complement its different parts? What lesson is taught through lichen in Braiding Sweetgrass?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the dichotomy between traditional knowledge and science in Braiding Sweetgrass. How are the approaches to these fields different? How did the author become immersed in each? How did she resolve the differences between the two?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the meaning of maple trees for the author and her people. What do maple trees represent? How do their actions influence humankind? How might we learn from maple trees?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 879 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample