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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 the underlying foundation of the entire Salatin farm, according to Pollan?

2. What were the programs that were set up in order to help farmers during the rougher years?

3. Pollan points out that the Republic of _______ exists today because of all of the excess corn in the market.

4. Salatin's ______ invented many of the methods of farming that are used on the farm today.

5. Corn began to rise to fame when the government war factories turned into __________ factories.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are the chicken pens slowly moved around the pasture during the day?

2. What does Pollan point out as being the ingredients that are in a common breakfast cereal?

3. What does the Salatin farm not need to use because it practices other methods of pest control and fertilization?

4. What does a person need to know in order to succeed with grass farming?

5. What happens during the wet mill process of processing corn?

6. What are three of the benefits to grass farming, as outlined by Pollan?

7. What was the role of Earl Butz in the corn industry, according to the book?

8. What are the reasons why Pollan calls farms and humans imperfect natural systems?

9. What does the lack of a good culture in America cause among people?

10. What are some of the other creatures and ingredients that are a part of the picture of the natural cow eating the natural grass?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The industrial method of growing corn appears to be causing more environmental damage than many might believe.

Part 1: Do you think farmers consider the environmental damage when growing corn?

Part 2: Do you think that farming can be more efficient? How?

Part 3: Why do you think industrial farming is so inefficient today?

Essay Topic 2

Much of the image of what 'organic' is may not be true, according to Pollan's findings.

Part 1: Why do you think people are so drawn to the idea of something being organic?

Part 2: Do you choose organic foods? Why or why not?

Part 3: How do you think a person can make a more informed decision about the foods they buy and eat?

Essay Topic 3

Polyface Farm also strives to live off the grid in an effort to use as few resources as possible.

Part 1: Do you think it's possible for you to live without depending on the grid?

Part 2: Why do you think a person might want to live off the grid?

Part 3: How would your live change if you were to start living off the grid?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 661 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample