The Lorax, Biology 1120

Comprehension Questions: Write a minimum of 1 sentence answer to the

below questions. Make sure it is a complete sentence and not a fragment!
1. The Truffula Trees were scarce, valuable natural resources. What made them
valuable and scarce?
The Truffula Trees didnt start out as scarce. They had become
scarce because they had all been chopped down.
2. Why did the Once-ler chop down the first Truffula Tree?
The Once-ler chopped down the first tree just because he wanted to.
He thought he could find a use for it.
3. What benefit did the Thneed have for consumers?
There really wasnt a benefit to consumers for a Thneed. It was just
the latest and greatest thing to need.
4. The Lorax did not think anyone would want to purchase a Thneed. Was he
correct?
The Lorax was incorrect in his thought that no one would want a
Thneed.
5. What new capital resource did the Once-ler invent? How did this help his
business?
The Once-ler invented the Thneed made out of Truffula tuft. The
Thneed was his business and it made him a lot of money.
6. Who was harmed as more and more Truffula Trees were chopped down and
they became more scarce?
The animals in the area of the Truffula Tree forest were the ones that
were harmed. To a certain extent the Once-ler was also harmed, but he
didnt care enough to stop what he was doing.
7. Was it wise of the Once-ler to chop down all the trees?
It was rather stupid of the Once-ler to chop down all of the trees.
8. In the story, all the trees were chopped down. In the modern U.S. economy,

why would this not happen?

Businesses know what they require to run their business. They
would not use up all of their resources, plus, they wouldnt be allowed to
by the government.
9. What situation or condition would promote the cutting down of all trees or the
overuse of natural resources?
The only situation would be if there was a catastrophic situation that
required overuse for people to survive.
10. When a good, service, or natural resource becomes more and more scarce,
what happens to the price?
The price goes up, the principle of supply and demand.
11. Compare the Once-ler's attitude toward the environment at the beginning of
the story with his attitude at the end.

The Once-ler realizes that there is value, beyond capital, to having

the Truffula Trees back.
Reflection Questions: Using 5-8 sentences*, answer FIVE of the following (or
you can answer them all if you really want to!). *The question itself does not
count towards the length of your answer!
1. Both the Onceler and the Lorax were passionate about their goals.
Discuss several reasons to explain why the Onceler succeeded while the
Lorax failed.
The Once-ler had already decided what he wanted to do with the Truffula
Trees. The Lorax could not dissuade him from his course of action. The
Once-ler was blinded by biggering his fortune. Once that happens to
someone it is very difficult to convince them to change their course of
action. No one wants to listen to someone like the Lorax. Someone like
that tells us the truth. Sometimes people dont want to hear the truth.
2. An argument was once made for protecting desert tortoises is that, desert
tortoises are important because people enjoy seeing them. Explain why

this is or is not a valid argument for the preservation of a species (such as

the Swamee-Swans in the video).
Preserving a species because people enjoy seeing that particular
species is important. There are also other important reasons as well.
One of those reasons being the wellness of the ecosystem as a
whole. It is still a valid argument to preserve something just for the
sake of seeing something lovely. We spend millions of dollars on
movies and entertainment every single year. People want something
to enjoy, its a bonus if its something natural.
3. Can aesthetic appreciation and value be taught? Why or why not? Is it
possible to persuade someone that a mountain vista or seashore is
beautiful if they did not already appreciate it? Why or why not?
I believe that aesthetic appreciation can be taught to the youth. It is
every parents responsibility to teach their children to appreciate the
beauty of nature. For schools to teach that to children is not as
effective, it starts in the home. Once someone reaches their 30s or
40s it is much more difficult to teach an appreciation for beauty just
for the sake of beauty. By that age, most people are too set in their
beliefs to change their minds.
4. Many countries have laws that prohibit the abuse of animals. Discuss reasons
for these laws to exist. Do these laws establish that the animals have a moral
standing in their own right?
5. Identify one environmental issue that you believe to be overblown and
overstated in the threat that it will ultimately pose. Discuss the actual threat and
how it differs from the public perception of the threat.
6. The Lorax says that the Once-ler is greedy. Greed is defined as a selfish
desire for food, money, or possessions over and above what one needs. What
are some of the ways that the Once-ler proved his greed? He says, "I biggered
my money which every needs." Is it true that everyone needs money? How
much money do people need? Is it right to make a ton of money while destroying
the environment?
The Once-ler proves his greed in a couple of ways. First, at the
beginning of the book he makes the boy pay him before he will tell
his story. That shows that even after all he did, he is still greedy and
wants more (even if its not much). The other was when the Bar-baloots left and the Once-ler felt sad, but still continued on his course
of business. I agree that everyone needs money. What I dont agree
with is that everyone needs to make more and more and more
money, especially if they are destroying the environment.

7. What did the once-ler mean by "UN-LESS"? What responsibility does he

seem to think "someone like you" needs to take? What kinds of things can we do
today to ensure that natural resources will be available for purposes in the
future?

Everyone needs to take responsibility for their actions. In the end,

that is the message of the story. Things can change; they dont have
to end badly. If we all take responsibility to use our resources wisely,
hopefully, we can reverse some of the damage that has been done to
the ecosystem. At the end of the Once-lers story, he realizes why the
Lorax left the word unless. The world could continue to degrade to a
point that its pretty much dead . . . . UNLESS, people take
responsibility for themselves and the earth. I love that he entrusts
the boy with the last Truffula Tree seed. The Once-ler finally decided
to do something.

8. The Once-ler explains his actions by saying, "If I didn't do it, someone else
would." Is this a good excuse for doing what he did?

9. The Lorax says he speaks for the trees. What does this mean to you? What is
the Lorax's attitude at the end of the story?