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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 books suggests that all of the following are successful defenses plants have adopted except _______.

2. According to the book, cannabis is now America's leading _______ with sinsemilla selling for upwards of $500 an ounce.

3. The author speculates that in order to transcend the normal day experience, we may need to a single volume of knowledge, which is a natural history of the __________.

4. Gene flow normally occurs between closely related __________, so it seems that the Monsanto varieties will not spawn superweeds.

5. One way to look at ___________ engineering is to think that it allows humans to insert their intelligence into a crop.

Short Essay Questions

1. What causes the Great Potato Famine and the many deaths over the area of Europe?

2. What were the dangers of the potato, according to Malthus during the time of the rise of the potato?

3. What has been the recurrent theme about plants which are forbidden by others? What are they supposed to provide?

4. What are some of the intoxicants and ingredients for intoxicants which Pollan admits to growing in his garden now?

5. Compare and contrast the tastes of plants which are supposed to be eaten with those which are not supposed to be eaten.

6. What are some of the reasons why potatoes were not very popular in Europe around the late 1500s?

7. Where was marijuana primarily grown up until the early 1980s when the war on drugs began?

8. Describe the NewLeaf potatoes that Pollan took in order to grow at his garden.

9. What are the various ingredients which might be used in witches' spells?

10. What is the status of marijuana use and growing in Amsterdam, according to Pollan in his book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of beauty is one which is not easy to define, although Pollan notes that this is why tulips were so popular for a time.

Part 1: How do you define the idea of beauty? What does this mean to you?

Part 2: How do you define the idea of beauty in relation to the flowers of the world?

Part 3: Why do you think that the tulip was favored over so many other flowers in the world?

Essay Topic 2

This book, "The Botany of Desire," is generally listed as a Nature and Gardening book, though this does not seem to be its only application.

Part 1: Why do you think this book is labeled as being a Nature and Gardening book?

Part 2: Do you agree with the idea that this should be labeled as a Nature and Gardening book? What other labels might apply?

Part 3: How do you think the book's message is perceived by those who are merely reading for the Nature and Gardening aspect?

Essay Topic 3

The process of bidding on flowers in order to have them in flower shops for orders seems to be a strange process to those outside of the flower market.

Part 1: Do you think that it's fair for flower sellers to have to bid on the flowers they want in their stores?

Part 2: How do you think flower auctions run? Are they frenetic like the stock market or are they more subdued?

Part 3: Why do you think flowers are so popular in the world among people of all ages and backgrounds?

(see the answer keys)

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