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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. What is Pollan not allowed to do with the NewLeaf potatoes at the end of the year, according to the law?

2. Some Christians believed that potato was the _________ matter, while bread was antimatter and even spirit in nature.

3. Lenson points out that many people of the past tried to __________ the use of drugs by calling it imagination.

4. According to the book, _____ are the only people on Earth who do not have a practice of using psychoactive plants to change consciousness.

5. _________ is one example of a chemical which was tested before it was used, only to find that later on it affected other ecosystems.

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 were the dangers of the potato, according to Malthus during the time of the rise of the potato?

4. Compare and contrast the tastes of plants which are supposed to be eaten with those which are not supposed to be eaten.

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

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

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

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

10. Why were the Irish open to farming the potato in order to provide food for themselves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Americans seem to have a clear idea as to what a 'normal' potato might look like.

Part 1: Why do you think Americans have been brought up to think of the potato in that one way?

Part 2: How do you feel about the potato? What do you think a potato should look and taste like?

Part 3: Do you feel the potato is an essential part of your diet? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The section on apples seems to be more of a memoir of the life of the apple than a serious scientific study of its origins.

Part 1: Why do you think that Pollan chose the apple over other fruits?

Part 2: How do you think the apple has changed your own life? Can it be more revolutionary in the future for you?

Part 3: Have any fruits changed or reshaped the way your life has turned out?

(see the answer keys)

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