David James Hoff

Prof Taylor
Biology 1120-401

The Lorax
Answers to Comprehensive Questions
1. The Truffula Trees were valuable and scarce natural resources because they only grow in one
region (hence why the Once-ler said that hed been looking for trees like these for a long
time) and because they provide fruit for the animals that call that place home.
2. The once-ler chopped down the first Truffula Tree so that he could carefully sew his first
Thneed.
3. The Thneed could be a shirt, socks, a hat, a bicycle seat cover, a pillow, carpet, and many
other things.
4. No, the Lorax was incorrect about his assumption that no one on Earth would buy a
Thneed. Right after the Lorax said that, a chap bought one for $3.98
5. The Once-ler invented the Super-Axe-Hacker which helped him to chop down four trees at
once so that his rate of production could be increased.
6. The Bar-ba-loots (adorable baby bear looking animals) were harmed by the significant loss of
Truffula Trees because the trees were their food and shade source.
7. NO, it was not wise for the Once-ler to chop down all of the Truffula Trees. Because of his
actions, 1. He destroyed an entire habitat. 2. With all of the trees gone, his business failed.
8. In the U.S. Economy there are many governmental protections put in place to help the
environment so that no business could completely destroy a natural resource.
9. When a good or service becomes more scarce, the price goes up if its in high demand.
10. At the beginning of the Lorax, the Once-ler had no sympathy for the environment, he only
cared about his profits. However, at the end of the Lorax, the Once-ler was very concerned
about the environment and wanted the kid to plant a new forest so that the Lorax and his
friends may come back.
Answers to Relflection Questions
1. Although the Lorax was passionate about his goals to save the environment and all of the
living things within it, he was not successful at all. However the Once-ler was successful in
making profits which was his goal. One reason being is that the Lorax was outnumbered
when opposed to the Once-ler family. Not only was he outnumbered, but he was also unable
to bring any punishment (either physical or legal) onto the Once-ler family for destroying the
habitat.
2. What the Once-ler said about everyone needing money is somewhat true. Technically
speaking, we could barter for goods or even be completely self-sufficient and just hunt and
gather all of our own food. But, the way that our economy is currently set up, everyone does
need money to buy shelter, food and clothing. That being said, no one really needs money in
mass amounts, we only need enough to buy ourselves shelter, food and clothing, and maybe
a little fun money so that we dont go nuts. In conclusion, its not morally right to
completely destroy the environment to turn un-necessarily huge profits. The well-being of
the environment affects all human beings in the long run, so if people destroy what should
be considered a shared resource, it takes away from other human being and also kills wildlife.

3. When the Lorax wrote UNLESS on the stone, he meant that unless someone cares a great
deal about the environment, enough to fix it, then its condition will never improve. When
the Once-ler gave the last Truffula seed, he was putting a great deal of responsibility on the
kids shoulders. Some of these responsibilities that the Once-ler spells out is that the kid
must nuture the seed into a Truffula tree in an area that has clean air and water. After the kid
is successful with the first tree, he must make a forest of these Truffula trees that also has
access to clean air and water. In order to maintain said forest, the kid will have to protect the
trees from people who want to chop them down. That being said, the kid will most likely
have to own the land that the trees are grown on so that if someone chops one down, he can
have them arrested/fined for trespassing. In conclusion, the boy in the story is only a child,
he will not be able to accomplish this task on his own until he has enough money to be a
land owner.
4. When the Once-ler said that if he didnt take advantage of the Truffula trees, that someone
else would and therefore take his potential profit, he was only making a lame excuse for
himself. The Once-ler himself knew that his excuse was no good, why else would he spend
years in that old factory feeling awful for what he did instead of trying to make profit
elsewhere? To answer the question: No, that is not a good excuse for ruining an entire
habitat to make profit in a dead end business.
5. The role of the Lorax as protector of the trees means that he would do anything for the
trees. But I found it interesting that he was much more than just a voice for the trees, he was
also a voice for all of the animals that lived there. Or was he? Maybe when the Lorax
advocated for all of the animals to the Once-ler, he was really speaking for the trees that
once provided food and shelter for these animals. At the end of the story, the Lorax is
severely disappointed in the Once-ler and seems to be helpless as well.