Amber Martin

Spring 2016
Biology 1120: Conservation Biology
Instructor: Jessica Berryman
April 27, 2016

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

II. Comprehension Questions:
1. The Truffula Trees were scarce, valuable natural resources. What made them
valuable and scarce?
The Truffula Trees only grew in one area, making them an endemic species. We learn this
because the Once-ler has been searching forever and these Truffula Trees are the first ones
hes seen.
2. Why did the Once-ler chop down the first Truffula Tree?
He liked the material and saw a potential to create a new product out of it from its material.
3. What benefit did the Thneed have for consumers?
The Thneed could be made to fit any consumers every need.
4 . The Lorax did not think anyone would want to purchase a Thneed. Was he
Correct?
No, the first Thneed was instantly purchased and soon after Once-ler had a market a market for
his product, leading for a greater need for more Thneeds.
5. What new capital resource did the Once-ler invent? How did this help his
Business?
The Thneed, an item that can fit your every need. The Thneed was made from Truffula Trees, a
commodity Once-ler held a monopoly on, meaning he was the sole person people could get a
Thneed from, giving him a huge consumer base.
6. Who was harmed as more and more Truffula Trees were chopped down and
they became more scarce?
All of the local wildlife. The Bar-ba-loots no longer had the shade or fruit from the trees. The
Swomee-Swans couldnt breathe in the smog created by the factory. Then the Humming-Fish
had to leave as well because of all the sewage that was being dumped in their pond.
7. Was it wise of the Once-ler to chop down all the trees?
No. No more trees means no more Thneeds and no more money for him. He should have
slowed down and protected some of the trees so his business could continue.
8. In the story, all the trees were chopped down. In the modern U.S. economy,
why would this not happen?

We have rules and regulations in place that make sure resources, like fish, have time to regrow
and keep a sustainable population, that way they should never die out. However, nothings is
perfect and overfishing is a real threat, the end result being no more fish, like the Truffula Trees.
9. What situation or condition would promote the cutting down of all trees or the
overuse of natural resources?
An insatiable consumer. People demand growing and the prices rising as the product grew
scarcer. Similar to exptic species, as they grow extinct the price for them only gets higher
leading to an increased desire to get the last ones for the most profit, regardless of the
consequences.
10. When a good, service, or natural resource becomes more and more scarce,
what happens to the price?
The price goes up and the desire to hunt the last ones down increases (want to make money).
11. Compare the Once-ler's attitude toward the environment at the beginning of
the story with his attitude at the end.
In the beginning all he can see is dollar signs. He could care less about the effects his factory
and business are having so long as he is making money. However, when all the trees are gone
and so is his money, only then does he realize just how bad his actions were (too late).
III. Reflection Questions:
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.
For one, the Once-ler had more people and resources on his side, the Lorax was only one
person. The Once-ler was also just doing what everyone else does, try to make money and use
resources. Nobody saw anything wrong with what he was doing because it was the norm. The
Lorax however, was the odd-man-out, supporting a cause that no one cared about, or thought
mattered. I think had the Lorax had more people and resources he might have made a bigger
difference. One annoying person isnt going to do much, but a large group chaining themselves
to the last of the trees, or boycotting Once-lers products? That would definitely have a larger,
more successful impact.
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 everyone 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 main way he showed his greed was his overexploitation of the Truffula Trees. He cared so
much about his money that he chose to turn a blind-eye to the harm he was causing the
environment. Only when it was too late and his money had dried up did he realize his mistake. I
do think that money is a necessity, we need it to get pretty much everything. However, money
doesnt need to consume our lives. One of my favorite sayings is We were meant to do more

than just pay bills and die. For me I only need as much money as my next adventure will cost. I
believe in collecting memories and not things. However, I know thats not realistic for everyone. I
would say people should shot to get enough money to live modestly and comfortably. That
means no lavish mansions or million dollar cars, only things that are necessities with no
frivolous excess. I think it is wrong to one destroy the environment in general, no matter the
reason, but to also make money while doing it is even worse. We should try to lessen our
impact on Earth, trying to achieve a symbiotic relationship with our planet rather than acting like
parasites. Our planet gives so much to us, its only fair if we give something back and help it.
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?
He meant unless we take action now things will just keep getting worse and nothing will get
better. Everyone has a responsibility to protect our planet, our home. Without it, we wouldnt
exist. As such its our responsibility to respect it and keep it clean. There are many things that
we are already doing to help protect our resources, such as protected wilderness areas, fishing
regulations, and protecting endangered species just to name a few. However, there is still much
more that needs to be done. Rules and regulations need to be better enforced. Cleaner energy
need to be utilized. A large part is just educating people about these issues, giving them the
tools to help protect our resources and planet.
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?
Absolutely not. Instead of overexploiting the Truffula Trees he could have chosen to protect
them instead because of how beautiful he thought they were. Even if he had chosen to use
them, there are better ways he could have gone about it. For one, not using them all up until
they were gone. Also, he could have made his factories cleaner, dumping his sewage elsewhere
and producing less/no smog. He also should have set aside a protected area, both for the sake
of his business and for the animals that relied on the trees.
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?
To me it means that he chooses to stand up for them because as he says I speak for the trees,
for the trees have no tongues. The Lorax is giving a voice to something that cant speak up for
itself. Just like we need to stand up for our natural resources, because if we dont then who will?
The Lorax was sad and disappointed at the end of the story. He had tried as hard as he could to
protect his trees, but the Once-ler just wouldnt listen. He was sad because all of the animals he
was supposed to protect were gone, their home destroyed. He was disappointed in the Once-ler
for realizing too late just how bad his actions were.