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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. Which word best describes how ants are viewed by the authors?

2. How can leather be safely tanned?

3. What is inspiring about cherry trees to the authors?

4. Which is a by-product of power plants that could be used in homes or businesses?

5. What material can be used to create a well-designed roof?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe some good examples of useful packaging.

2. Describe how the design of detergents and soaps can be improved for consumer use, the environment, and business.

3. What is the problem with current product packaging?

4. Explain why contamination is so permanent on the planet.

5. Describe the ideal design for a roof.

6. Give two examples of local cooling power.

7. Describe how Egyptian civilization traditionally uses nutrient flows and explain how this has changed in recent times.

8. Explain how sewage systems can be improved.

9. How are the materials used to make the book Cradle to Cradle different than a typical bookstore book?

10. Describe the qualities a building would provide if its design were based on a cherry tree. For example, would it be dark or light inside, warm or cold, etc?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a three-part essay to explain how housing designs can be improved to be more eco-effective.

Part 1. Describe examples from around the world that show how homes can be cooled and insulated with little or no energy consumption.

Part 2. Describe the suggestions that the authors explain for insulation, heating, and cooling designs.

Part 3. Explain how roof tops can be improved to be better insulators and reduce energy needs in the home.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the ideas of "less-bad" design and "completely positive" design. How does each idea affect the environment, industry, and consumers? What is the philosophy behind each design idea? What is the goal of each idea? What materials should be involved in the designs for each idea?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay to explain what is meant by brute force in product design. Describe how this design practice is related to monoculture crops and the accumulation of toxic chemicals in the environment.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 878 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample