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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. Over time, corn has become everything humans need to be a staple of the _________ food chain.

2. The factories from the war time began to produce ________ for farmers to help with their crops.

3. The push for corn has also led to the industrialization of _______ farms, according to Naylor.

4. Though the process of _________, animals can be fed, which then leads to the feeding of humans, too.

5. _______ was mass produced because of all of the corn that was grown at the time of the alcohol period in the country.

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the compounds that are derived from the various parts of the corn kernel?

2. Why does most of the corn planting farming rely on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO)?

3. Why is high fructose corn syrup used in sodas today instead of regular sugar?

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

5. What does Pollan note as being a problem with organic foods being labeled as organic, as shown in the example of the lettuce?

6. What happened as a result of corn having mutated early on in its use?

7. What indicates a higher ratio of corn being eaten in a human's diet?

8. What does Pollan point out as a downside of there being more organic farms around today?

9. Why do humans have the problem of the omnivore's dilemma, according to Pollan?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At one point, the book brings up the idea that food should be the next revolution in America.

Part 1: Why might food be the basis for a new revolution?

Part 2: Do you think food is something that is causing divisiveness in the country today?

Part 3: How do you think the food supply might change if there was a revolution?

Essay Topic 2

Salatin's farming methods focus on efficiency and building up a system that helps maintain itself.

Part 1: How do you think industrial farms lack efficiency?

Part 2: Why do you think natural farming methods are more efficient?

Part 3: Do you think every farmer can be more efficient?

Essay Topic 3

Farmers continue to have to grow more and more corn to keep up with the supply and demand, but it's harming their farms.

Part 1: What are some of the problems of only growing corn in a field?

Part 2: Do you think that farmers should be pushed to grow so much corn?

Part 3: Why do you think farmers aren't trying to grow more diverse crops?

(see the answer keys)

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