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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. The book states that certain flowers are reminiscent of Greek Gods. The rose and the peony are stated to be flowers of ______.

2. Flowers have been given the ability to attract other species using a variety of senses except ______.

3. The book states that Johnny Appleseed died in 1845 in _______ Indiana.

4. Teaching men how to ferment the juice of the grape, ______ had brought civilization the gift of wine.

5. Part of the Americanization of the apple had to do with the character of Johnny Appleseed whose real name was ______.

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the colors and the shapes of flowers designed to do, according to some scientists?

2. What is the aim of Pollan's book in terms of how it talks about the relationship between Man and Nature?

3. Why did Pollan plant tulip bulbs when he was a child, according to his own reflections?

4. What are the four important classes of domesticated plants which influenced the way in which Pollan chose the plants for the book?

5. How does Pollan describe the particular patch of garden versus the plants one finds in nature?

6. What are some of the ways in which flowers have been created to attract the attention of humans, according to Pollan?

7. What is the classic example of coevolution that Pollan presents at the start of the book?

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

9. What is the question which arises in Pollan's mind when he thinks about planting and growing the potatoes?

10. What happens when a person cuts an apple at its equator with a sharp knife?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When the reader sees that marijuana is one of the plants in the book, they can have a variety of reactions.

Part 1: Why do you think Pollan decided to include marijuana in this book?

Part 2: Do you agree that marijuana should be included in a book about how plants change humans as much as humans change plants?

Part 3: How do you think marijuana has affected humans, in your experience?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Pollan tries to assign gender qualities to flowers, as some are seen as feminine and others as masculine.

Part 1: Why do you think it is important to assign gender qualities to flowers?

Part 2: What is the purpose of assigning certain flowers to certain gender labels?

Part 3: Do you agree with the assignment of genders to flowers? What do you think this does to the discussion of flowers?

(see the answer keys)

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