View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many square feet of greenhouse makes up Kerry's Bromeliads?

2. What refers to a species of flowering plant in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that is native to subtropical and tropical South America?

3. How many greenhouses in the Orchid Jungle were destroyed by Hurricane Andrew?

4. When did the Billy Bowlegs War take place?

5. The poisonous South American toad now can grow up to how long?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss the beginning history of the Fakahatchee Strand described in The Good Life.

2. What is the only way into the Fakahatchee Strand? How was the road built?

3. What did Susan envy about the orchid growers and collectors in Fortunes?

4. What did Laroche do with the stolen orchids? What is revealed of them in The Good Life?

5. What plant smuggler did Susan meet in Barbecued Doves? What did his wife talk about?

6. What nursery had the Fennells owned? Why had they closed it?

7. What did the Gulf American Company sell?

8. What did Tom Fennell say of Laroche's plan with the Ghost Orchid?

9. Who had traveled to Washington D. C. on horseback to repeal a law amongst the Seminoles?

10. What was the result of many poachers taking plants from swamps in south Florida?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the theme of obsession apply to "The Orchid Thief"? What symbols and metaphors support this theme?

Essay Topic 2

Describe John Laroche's car accident and the impact of Hurricane Andrew on Florida. When did Andrew hit?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the world of contemporary plant and orchid collecting. How many orchid collectors are there today? Has this changed considerably?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 811 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample