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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. According to the book, some of the most bitter and "bad" plants are the ones that contain the most powerful _______.

2. The French romantics were said to have experimented with ________ after Napoleon's troops brought it back with them from Egypt.

3. What kind of storm took place in December of 1999, causing the gardens of Versailles to be ruined?

4. For the first time in history, the __________ of a plant is being domesticated by humans and by the scientific changes of humans.

5. ______ change the taste of plant flesh on the tongues of certain animals and can render the sweetest fruit sour.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What does Pollan begin to realize after the powerful storm that ruined a part of the famous gardens of Versailles?

5. What is the most important thing to an animal's survival, according to the discussion of plants?

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

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

8. What was going on at the time of Pollan's visit to Amsterdam for research for this book?

9. What did Heath have to say about Pollan's question about pest resistance to the chemicals the potatoes are designed to produce?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Pollan's main idea is that plants have shaped human evolution just as much as humans have shaped plant evolution.

Part 1: In what ways do you think plants have helped to shape human evolution?

Part 2: In what ways do you think humans have helped to shape plant evolution?

Part 3: Do you think humans or plants are responsible for more change for the other species? Why?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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