A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold Flashcards COMPLETE

What is the main argument of this book?

What is the main argument of this book?

The main argument of this book is land ethic. In basic terms, land ethic is about the need to create a social conscience towards the environment and the land. The land ethic requires humans to acknowledge that they are members of the biotic community with interdependent parts.

What can people learn from animal tracks?

A person can learn a lot about animals from their tracks. They can figure out where the animal goes, what the animal does and how it does it.

How does the meadow mouse live in the winter?

The meadow mouse lives in the winter by creating little tunnels in the snow. They are hidden from other animals. These tunnels melt when the weather warms and exposes the mouse to everyone and everything around it.

Where does the skunk trail go and what is the narrator's conclusion?

The skunk's trail enters the woods and ends at a pile of driftwood. The narrator does not arrive at a conclusion, but ends up wondering what the skunk gets into.

Why does the narrator consider the oak tree special?

The oak tree is special to the narrator because he knows it experiences so much. It actually grows up to be a tree. Very few trees manage to escape being eaten by the rabbits and actually grow to be a tree.

What happens when the narrator cuts down the oak tree?

While the narrator cuts down the oak tree, as he cuts through the rings, the narrator recalls what happens in each year that the tree is alive. Some occasions are simple and are related to the weather. Others are more complicated and related to human historical events, such as when government start to intervene in the environment.

What distinction does the narrator make between the muskrat and the geese?

The distinction that the narrator makes between the muskrat and the geese is that the muskrat comes out of his hole to see if winter ends, but the geese have to be sure before they travel two hundred miles from the north to the marsh.

What conclusion does the narrator come to with respect to the lone goose?

Since most geese travel in families of six, the narrator comes to the conclusion that the lone goose is simply a goose whose family is shot by hunters. Geese flock together and a lone goose is not natural.

Why does the narrator like the time when it floods?

The narrator likes the time when it floods because he likes the solitude. Since his road is flooded over, no cars pass on the flooded road. The only traffic build up is by the fish. He likes to watch the carp swimming on the flooded road and trails.

How does the bur oak survive the prairie fires?

The bur oak survives the prairie fires because it has an extremely thick bark that resists fire. Thus during the fires, the bur oak 's bark protects it.

What does the narrator consider special about the woodcock?

The narrator considers the woodcock's amazing sky dance to be special. The bird flies up towards the sky in a series of wide spirals letting out a musical twitter. He goes up until he is a small speck in the sky, then tumbles down like a cripple plane. He lands in the same spot he starts.

When the narrator sees two woodcocks sky dance, what does he not know about them?

When the narrator sees two woodcocks sky dance, he does not know if they are a couple or two competing males. One thing that nobody knows is where the female bird is.

The narrator says that the migratory habits of the upland plover proves that nature knows what?

The narrator says that the migratory habits of the upland plover proves that nature knows all about hemispheric solidarity, something that people need to learn. The plover comes home to the prairie in May, then when the air starts to turn too cool for them, they return to Argentina.

What two natural enemies do the plover and man have in common?

Two natural enemies that the plover and man have in common are the gully and the drainage ditch. Otherwise, while the plover is in the prairie land, it blends in well. It follows the buffalo, nests in hayfield and is smart enough to avoid the hay mowers.

Who or what is the third enemy of the plover?

The third enemy of the plover is man. Man comes with universal gunpowder to shoot the plover. The basic reason man shoots the plover is because the post Victorian people begin to develop a taste for plover-on-toast.

What does the narrator consider the "big deal" when he catches three trout?

The narrator catches the three trout but none are record breakers. He considers that the big deal is not that he catches them, but the chance that he takes to catch them.

How much land does the narrator say he owns?

The narrator says he legally owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, according to the County Clerk. But the narrator says he is the sole owner of all the acres he walks over, not just the acres he legally owns.

What is the narrator trying to record when he goes out in the morning?

When the narrator goes out in the morning with a notebook, he is trying to record the order of the chirping and singing birds. All the birds take part in a morning song with each other and he tries to distinguish them.

Why is the flora in the area shrinking?

The flora in the area is shrinking because of clean farming, woodlot grazing and good roads. The narrator considers all of these things to be necessary evils, but no one benefits from erasing a part of nature.

Why is the narrator unsuccessful in transplanting silphium?

The narrator is unsuccessful in transplanting silphium because he is unable to even get down to the root of the plant. Therefore he doesn't get enough of the silphium to transplant.

Why does the narrator say that most paintings become famous?

The narrator says that most paintings become famous because their paint is durable and is viewed by people across several generations

What "painting" does the narrator like to view that is seldom viewed?

The painting that the narrator likes to view that is seldom viewed is one where a river holds a brush and paints a beautiful scene, only to erase it quickly after and exists only in the viewer's mind.

Why does a person not return for a second viewing of the "painting" that the author likes to view?

A person doesn't return for a second viewing of the picture because there is none. By the time the person returns, the river paints another picture over the one that the person sees the first time.

The narrator says that the only thing people hope for with respect to this painting is what?

The narrator says that people only hope that the river is in the mood to paint again in the future. This way, people return and see another picture.

Where do tamaracks grow?

Tamaracks grow in the swamps and in the upland springs. They are the best indicator of when to go hunting.

What are red lanterns and what are they used for?

Red lanterns are blackberry bushes whose leaves turn red in the October sun. The narrator says that red lanterns are used when hunting partridges, since partridges hang out around the berries.

With regards to hunting partridges, the narrator says that he and his dog have what kind of relationship?

When hunting partridges, the narrator says that he and his dog have a teacher-student relationship, where he is the student and his dog is the teacher. He says his dog wishes he learns how to smell for partridge himself.

When hunting partridge with his dog, the narrator stops and listens for what?

When hunting partridges with his dog, the narrator stops and listens for any cue from his dog. He listens for a scared partridge running through the brush, or waits for it to cluck before it flies away.

Why does the narrator say that November is the month of the axe?

The narrator says that November is the month of the axe because it is warm enough to grind an axe without freezing, yet cold enough to cut a tree down comfortably.

To what does the narrator ascribe his likes and dislikes in plants?

The narrator states that his likes and dislike of plants are traditional and go back to his grandfather's likes and dislikes.

Why does the narrator see his disease plagued woods as a blessing?

The narrator sees his disease plagued woods as a blessing in disguise because of all the diversity in wildlife that the diseased trees bring to his woods. Among these animals are coons, squirrels, bees, and chickadees.

What does the narrator call a real gift in his woods?

The narrator says that the real gift is the presence of the prothonotary warbler who nests in an old woodpecker hole during the rainy season.

What is the most basic principle of ecology according to the narrator?

According to the narrator, the most basic principle of ecology is the home range, or the area that each animal uses on a daily basis for food and shelter.

Why do pines have the reputation of being green year round?

Pines have the reputation of being green year round because they discard their old needles, which become yellow, at the same time they get their new fresh green needles.

What do people learn by banding birds?

By banding birds, people learn about their migration patterns and whether their land is inhabited by local or foreign birds. It is also a good indicator of population and how long the birds survive on average.

What does the narrator believe are the three commandments of the chickadees?

The narrator believes that the three commandments of the chickadees are the following: stay away from windy places, don't get wet before a blizzard, and investigate every loud noise.

How does peoples' ability to enjoy nature begin?

People's ability to enjoy nature begins with what is pretty or what is aesthetically pleasing.

Why does the narrator find that the sand farms aren't as poor as people think?

The narrator finds that the sand farms aren't as poor as people think because there are a myriad of plant species that grow in the sand, including pasque-flowers, sandwort, lupine and draba. Some birds are only found in the sand counties, such as the clay colored sparrow.

What does the narrator consider to be part of the tragedy of the extinction of the passenger pigeon?

The narrator considers part of the tragedy of the extinction of the passenger pigeon to be that people never have the pleasure of seeing it fly overhead and deliver a message to someone. You read an inscription about it, but you don't see it.

Why does the State Conservation Department buy back land along the Flambeau River?

The State Conservation Department buys back land along the Flambeau to reestablish the wilderness that exist there.

Why does the State College want farmers to plant Chinese elms rather than cottonwoods?

The State College want farmers to plant Chinese elms rather than cottonwoods, because elms don't shed cotton like cottonwoods do and the cotton accumulates on window screens.

The narrator states that State College is more concerned with beauty and ease than with what?

The narrator states that State College is more concerned with beauty and ease than with what is natural and wild in the area.

The narrator compares puccoons to what other plant and why?

The narrator compares puccoons to silphium because both plants grow near cemeteries and neither of them are spectacular or important to people. Most people only learn about them in a botany book.

What are the conditions that the narrator's father set when he gives the narrator permission to shoot partridges?

The narrator's father gives him permission to shoot partridges only if they are in flight and never if they are perched in a tree.

Why does the narrator say that nobody knows all the terrain on top of the White Mountain?

The narrator says that nobody knows all the terrain on top of the White Mountain because if they do, there are more songs written about the mountain.

Where is the history of the area of White Mountain recorded?

The history of the area of White Mountain is written in bark inscriptions by passersby and by the names of its areas such as Boneyard, The Campbell Blue, and Paradise Ranch.

The narrator says that he thinks getting rid of the wolves means more deer, but this isn't the case in the long run. Why?

In the long run, without the wolves that control the deer population, more and more deer survive and eat away all their own food supply. Thus, the end result is a barren mountain with deer that starve to death.

According to the narrator, why do people not go to Escudillo?

According to the narrator, people don't go to Escudilla because of the big grizzly bear that lives atop it like a king in his castle. People are afraid of the bear, since it comes down every spring to feed on livestock.

According to the narrator, what is the numenon and what is its opposite?

According to the narrator, the unpredictable essence of material things is called the numenon and the opposite is a phenomenon, which is something predictable.

Why should a person never return to nature twice?

A person should never return to nature twice because the more beautiful it is when he or she first sees it, the greater chance that it is gone the second time around.

What is meant by invasive species?

Invasive species are animals and plants that are foreign to the land and have flourished at the expense of the native species.

According to the narrator, what is the one thing that cheat grass is good for?

According to the narrator, the one thing that cheat grass is good for is to stop cattle from overgrazing, which causes erosion because of the bare land.

Why are public policies involved with outdoor recreation controversial?

Public policies involving outdoor recreation are controversial because people don't agree with what is done about nature and how it is enjoyed. For example, a game farmer kills hawks, and a bird lover wants to protect them.

According to the narrator, what do people need to do who are a part of recreational development?

People who are part of recreational development need to build receptivity into peoples' minds and make them want to protect nature and appreciate it, without the roads that damage it.

What are the three different values listed by the narrator that people have when it comes to nature?

The three values listed by the narrator that people have when it comes to nature are the following: the split-rail value, anything that reminds us of our dependency on the old food chain, and sportsmanship.

What two ideas that are part of the split-rail value does the narrator say the pioneer period creates?

The two ideas that the narrator says the pioneer period creates are the "go light" idea and the "one bullet one buck" idea. These ideas happen naturally in the past.

According to the narrator, what are two problems that humans face with regards to the wilderness?

According to the narrator, two problems that humans face with regards to the wilderness are the exhaustion of the wilderness and globalization, or the world wide hybridization of human culture from industrialization and modern transport.

What is the best way to manage national parks according to the narrator?

The best way to manage national parks according to the narrator is to leave the most wild parts alone and count them as endangered areas that need to recover.

What does the narrator state is the main premise for ethics and the environment?

The narrator states that the main premise for ethics and the environment is for each person to acknowledge that they are a member of a community with interdependent parts, the biotic community.

How does the narrator believe conservation is taught?

The narrator believes conservation is taught as a biotic pyramid instead of a balancing scale. He believes the balance of nature way of explaining things is flawed.

The narrator believes that the conservation movement is the first step to acknowledging that there is an ecological necessity to establish a code of ethics for the environment and what?

People.

According to the narrator, the land ethic changes the role of humans from conquerors to what?

Members of the biotic community.

What steers the course of history, according to scientists?

Plant succession.

The narrator believes that conservation is the state of harmony between the land and what?

Man.

According to the narrator, what is the main weakness for conservation?

The lack of economic importance.

The narrator states that the level of violence on the land is directly related to what?

Population density.

In the narrator's view, wilderness is the raw material that man uses to create what?

Civilization.

What are the fastest shrinking wilderness areas?

Coastlines.

According to the narrator, wilderness for recreation is extremely what?

Menacing.

How much of the woods and mountains is already taken up by mechanized recreation?

About 90%.

According to the narrator, what are people not able to successfully control?

The health of the land.

What animals are National Parks not able to protect?

Larger carnivores.

How many values does the narrator say that people have when it comes to nature?

Three.

According to the narrator, what is sportsmanship aimed at getting rid of?

Gadgets.

What sport does the narrator think is very corrupt?

Duck hunting.

The narrator believes that wildlife administrators are too busy figuring out what to shoot at rather than paying attention to what?

The cultural values of shooting.

What does the narrator call wildlife tourism?

The nature department.

Wildlife managers try to raise game in the wild by what means?

Manipulating the environment.

According to the narrator, the difficult part about finding a way to return to nature is to find a way to do this without destroying what?

Nature.

One type of outdoor recreation enthusiast is the kind that wanders in the woods searching for what?

Rare plants and birds.

According to the narrator, how many different components of the recreational process are there?

Five.

When too many people want the same trophies, what component of the trophy does this mass use problem decrease?

The quality.

Recreation is an economic resource of the government, but the narrator believes that it also has what kind of component to it?

Ethical.

According to the narrator, recreation becomes what kind of process?

Self-destructive.

What plant is the biggest problem in the northwestern foothills?

Cheat grass.

According to the narrator, today the honey-colored hills of the northwest mountains are covered with what?

Cheat grass.

What kind of grass do the cattle love to eat?

Wheatgrass.

What makes cheat grass inedible for the livestock?

Prickly awns.

According to the narrator in Chapter 17, what is accepted as a necessary evil in the northwestern foothills?

Cheat grass.

What is one of the main birds that makes the marshland its home, as the marshes are moving northward to Canada?

The grebe.

What is the numeon of the Sierra Madre?

The thick-billed parrot.

When the narrator goes with his brother to the Colorado Delta, they camp on an estuary near the place where what bird roosts?

Gambel quail.

What is cachinilla?

A shrub.

The narrator likens the hunter in the Sierra Madres to what?

Conquistadors.

To the superficial eye, the Gavilan region is hard, stony and full of what?

Cliffs and slopes.

The narrator says that professors serve what?

Science.

The top of the White Mountain is originally only accessible to whom?

Horseman.

In the summer, the weather on White Mountain is unpredictable because of what?

Lightning.

What is on top of the White Mountain?

A meadow.

Who does the narrator think is the only one who listens to the wolf's howl objectively?

The White Mountain.