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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. How can leather be safely tanned?

2. How do the Chinese traditionally maintain nutrients to their rice patties?

3. Which product is an example of a monstrous hybrid, as the authors describe it?

4. Which is an example of a product that is difficult to recycle?

5. Which of the following is an example of how the natural world replenishes itself?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain why the authors find the cherry tree an inspiration for new industrial designs.

2. Describe how our water supply is affected by the "throwaway" mentality.

3. What do the authors suggest we do so that our products resemble the diversity present in the natural world?

4. Describe some good examples of useful packaging.

5. Explain how sewage systems can be improved.

6. Describe how the design of detergents and soaps can be improved for consumer use, the environment, and business.

7. Explain and give an example of what the authors mean by products that are "monstrous hybrids".

8. Describe the qualities a building would provide if its design were based on a cherry tree. For example, would it be dark or light inside, warm or cold, etc?

9. Give two examples of local cooling power.

10. Describe how Egyptian civilization traditionally uses nutrient flows and explain how this has changed in recent times.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the design concepts behind "one size fits all" and designing for "local use." How does each concept use energy and resources? What are the costs and benefits to each concept? Give some examples of product designs for each design concept.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay to examine how common household objects can pose a threat to health and the environment. Cover the following three points in your essay.

1. Give examples of some common objects that can be harmful to human health and the environment.

2. Describe how chemicals can be released from objects as they are used or decompose in the environment.

3. Explain how materials can contain chemicals that are banned from use in the United States.

Essay Topic 3

Write a three-part essay to summarize the problems with the current trend in designing crude products.

Part 1. Describe what the authors mean by "crude products." Why do the authors consider these designs to be unintelligent and inelegant?

Part 2. Explain what the authors suggest should be the basis to design, instead of inventing more crude products.

Part 3. Describe how soaps and detergents are crude products that need an improvement in their design. How can we improve soaps and detergents?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 977 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample