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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. ____________ were the ones who seized land from the Irish, causing them to have meager plots of arable land on which to grow.

2. The weedy _________ potatoes on the edges of Andean farms caused changes in the strains of potatoes which would grow.

3. The reasons why potatoes did not become popular in Europe at first was because they were thought to cause _________ and immorality.

4. Some of the farmers who grow potatoes are happy with Monsanto since this means they can skip a few _________, which saves them money.

5. The arts of _______ are how plants have explored their ingenuity applied to learning and adapting.

Short Essay Questions

1. What was going on at the time of Pollan's visit to Amsterdam for research for this book?

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

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

4. What are some of the intoxicants and ingredients for intoxicants which Pollan admits to growing in his garden now?

5. What is the status of marijuana use and growing in Amsterdam, according to Pollan in his book?

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

7. What does Pollan begin to realize after the powerful storm that ruined a part of the famous gardens of Versailles?

8. Why are cats so drawn to catnip, according to the research that Pollan does after seeing how his cat response to using this herb?

9. What does Pollan believe the experience of the sublime has to do with the experience of nature?

10. What is the rationale that Pollan gives for growing pot as he decides to do when it is not as much of a legal issue?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Marijuana, though illegal, is tolerated in many parts of the world, including the United States.

Part 1: Why do you think marijuana is tolerated in so many parts of the world?

Part 2: Do you agree that marijuana should be tolerated in society?

Part 3: How do you think the marijuana plant can or cannot help society as a whole?

Essay Topic 2

The process of bidding on flowers in order to have them in flower shops for orders seems to be a strange process to those outside of the flower market.

Part 1: Do you think that it's fair for flower sellers to have to bid on the flowers they want in their stores?

Part 2: How do you think flower auctions run? Are they frenetic like the stock market or are they more subdued?

Part 3: Why do you think flowers are so popular in the world among people of all ages and backgrounds?

Essay Topic 3

The story includes the idea that Johnny Appleseed spread the seeds of apples all over America, although no proof is given.

Part 1: Does it seem plausible that one man could have spread all of the apple seeds in the country?

Part 2: What do you think Johnny's motivations for spreading the seed might have been?

Part 3: Why is this story so nostalgic to those who live in America?

(see the answer keys)

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