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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. _______ or 'white lightning' preceded hard cider as the alcohol containing drink of choice on the frontier.

2. In 1812, Chapman ran thirty miles to warn settlers of the approach of troops, a feat known as _______.

3. According to the book, the tulip is said to have the consciousness of _______, evoking clarity and order.

4. The process of trying to impersonate other plants or animals in order to attract or repel is called ______.

5. The apple does not breed simply from seed. Thus all trees that produce the same type of apples are _______ of the original tree.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Pollan says that he thinks tulips really were flowers which were designed for children?

2. Pollan points out there may or may not be a correlation between the beautiful and the good. What does he think there is probably a correlation between?

3. Why did Jews and Christians have troubles admitting to the beauty of flowers within their celebrations?

4. What is the origin of the domesticated apple, although this is certainly a point which is up for contention?

5. What does Pollan find to be mythical about the story of Johnny Appleseed, although it is a true story?

6. What happens when a person plants the seed of an apple tree into the ground? Will the resulting tree produce the same apples?

7. What is the possible coincidence that Pollan points out between the flowers and their ability to arouse desire in bees?

8. Why might it be possible to say that the plants are more evolved than humans are at this point in time?

9. What happens as a result of having perfect symmetry in a flower, according to Pollan's writing in the book?

10. What are some of the effects of the chemicals within plants which begin the argument that plants might be designed to change humans?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At one point, Pollan points out that the tulip offers no nutritional value, while the fruit and the seeds provide sustenance.

Part 1: Why do you think Pollan included such a contradiction in this book?

Part 2: Do you think that Pollan's contradiction causes his book to be less valuable to a reader?

Part 3: Do you think it's possible to create a book without contradicting one's self?

Essay Topic 2

One might suggest that the idea that apples are shaping human existence is based on speculation as opposed to scientific study.

Part 1: Do you think that apples have affected the human race as a whole?

Part 2: How might a scientist study the sweetness and the effects of apples on humans?

Part 3: Is science the only way that a definitive answer can be discovered? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The book's subjects are presented with objectivity at times, but not at other times.

Part 1: Do you think it's possible for a book to be completely objective?

Part 2: In what ways might Pollan have been able to be more objective in the way he writes this book?

Part 3: How do you think Pollan feels about the plants that he has chosen in this book?

(see the answer keys)

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