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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. The book states that before flowers there was no connection between the way things looked and ______.

2. The domestic apple is thought to have derived from a species that originally came from the country ______.

3. Probably as a defense to discourage animals from biting into them, apple seeds contain a small amount of _______.

4. The book suggests that Herbert's view of tulipmania is a parable of utopianism, specifically _______.

5. According to the book, the word _____ is a corruption of the Turkish word for Turban.

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are some of the groups which roamed the Ohio lands long before Johnny Appleseed was there?

2. How did the tulip bulb end up coming into Holland, even though it was not a native plant in the area?

3. Pollan points out there may or may not be a correlation between the beautiful and the good. What does he think there is probably a correlation between?

4. What is the main reason why the apple is presented in a book about the idea of desire? How does the apple relate to desire?

5. What was the way in which the tulip was able to get ahead when it was a part of the Ottoman Empire?

6. What are the four important classes of domesticated plants which influenced the way in which Pollan chose the plants for the book?

7. Why did Jews and Christians have troubles admitting to the beauty of flowers within their celebrations?

8. What happens when a person plants the seed of an apple tree into the ground? Will the resulting tree produce the same apples?

9. What happens as a result of having perfect symmetry in a flower, according to Pollan's writing in the book?

10. What is the aim of Pollan's book in terms of how it talks about the relationship between Man and Nature?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pollan tries to assign gender qualities to flowers, as some are seen as feminine and others as masculine.

Part 1: Why do you think it is important to assign gender qualities to flowers?

Part 2: What is the purpose of assigning certain flowers to certain gender labels?

Part 3: Do you agree with the assignment of genders to flowers? What do you think this does to the discussion of flowers?

Essay Topic 2

The idea of beauty is one which is not easy to define, although Pollan notes that this is why tulips were so popular for a time.

Part 1: How do you define the idea of beauty? What does this mean to you?

Part 2: How do you define the idea of beauty in relation to the flowers of the world?

Part 3: Why do you think that the tulip was favored over so many other flowers in the world?

Essay Topic 3

The idea of tulipomania is one which seems to be silly and yet completely true at the same time.

Part 1: Why do you think so many people gravitated to the tulip?

Part 2: What are your impressions of the tulip? Do you find it beautiful?

Part 3: How do you think a flower can become a part of a craze in the world? Does this seem like a necessary situation?

(see the answer keys)

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