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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. Some of the ways children have been known to seek this altered state of consciousness include all of the following except______.

2. When the ___________ harvest failed in England in 1794, it seems that the poor were not going to be able to buy the bread they needed.

3. The new potato called "NewLeaf" has been genetically engineered in order to produce its own ______________.

4. In order to reduce time and energy spent on growing male sinsemilla plants which are useless, growers started ______.

5. Pollan believes that the idea of planting and of growing plants causes humans to be filled with a sense of _________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the experience Pollan had when the police almost found his large marijuana plants in his backyard?

2. How does one begin to grow potatoes, according to Pollan in the book?

3. What are some of the possible genetically modified food advances people might see in the future, according to Pollan?

4. How does Heath avoid the purchases of many inputs on his farm so that he can save money?

5. After a few days of drenching rain, what did the NewLeaf potato plants look like in Pollan's garden?

6. What has been the recurrent theme about plants which are forbidden by others? What are they supposed to provide?

7. What did Heath have to say about Pollan's question about pest resistance to the chemicals the potatoes are designed to produce?

8. What causes the Great Potato Famine and the many deaths over the area of Europe?

9. What happens to the animal in the wild who decides to eat hallucinogens and thus takes in the toxins of these plants?

10. As the various lands in Europe began to rely on the potato, what were the positive benefits of this situation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

The apple is somewhat mythic, showing up in the Bible as well as in a number of other stories and media sources.

Part 1: Why is the apple such a desirable fruit in the stories?

Part 2: Do you think another fruit might have been suitable in the story of Adam and Eve? Which fruit?

Part 3: How do you think the apple's appeal might have changed had it not been used in stories and myths?

Essay Topic 3

Pollan's main idea is that plants have shaped human evolution just as much as humans have shaped plant evolution.

Part 1: In what ways do you think plants have helped to shape human evolution?

Part 2: In what ways do you think humans have helped to shape plant evolution?

Part 3: Do you think humans or plants are responsible for more change for the other species? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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