Allied with the Green L.A.
What is the theme of the story?
People must respect and care for green plants of all kinds because "green" refreshes and sustains human life.
Why does Lucy choose to write about "the color green" for her paper?
green plants are important to her
Why does Lucy's father feel guilty?
he once demonstrated against highways that destroy green space, and now he drives on them
Why was Lucy so interested in Robert Isabell?
he used flowers and plants to create magical or exotic scenes and worlds.
Lucy chooses to write about the color green for her school assignment. Based on her teacher's reaction to her paper from last semester, what will her teacher's reaction to this topic probably be?
her teacher, who didn't appreciate Lucy's previous paper on an addiction to trimming plants, is likely to "turn a snide nose up at" this one and say that Lucy hasn't come up with new ideas.
Once Lucy decides on the topic for her school assignment, she can't help but notice the green around her. What does this tell you about her character and how she feels about her topic?
it shows that Lucy is a sensitive, perceptive person who cares very much about the importance of green plants
What does the author mean by the statement, "No one goes to Seattle to see the concrete."?
people go to Seattle because there is a lot of green space there. People value nature and plants and will actively seek them out.
How are the air and green like "close cousins"?
people take both for granted and not given the attention they deserve
Why did Lucy get a C on her previous paper on addiction?
she wrote about something that did not address the topic very well
Explain what the author means by the last line of the story, "You had to carry a bucket."
taking care of green plants requires a lot of work, and it should be everyone's responsibility
What does the narrator compare to holy water. What does that comparison suggest?
the author compares the water used to wash fruit, and reused to water plants, to the holy water poured in a religious service. The water is precious and used in a kind of ritual to keep plants alive
What point is the narrator making about developments?
the author is trying to make the point that green helps people calm down
The author uses the phrase "a tiny shoot of phrase prickling the mind" to describe how everything starts. What does the phrase mean?
the phrase means "a few words that are the start of an idea for a school paper." The author combines the image of a tiny shoot that prickles, which is the beginning of a green plant, with the beginning of an idea. The phrase "the color green" is what prickles her mind
What does the author reveal about Lucy's character from her thoughts and actions in the story?
throughout the story, Lucy demonstrates that she is deeply committed to her belief in the importance of green plants. She is a bit dramatic, as shown by her exaggerated statement, "If people could not see green from the windows of the hospital, the hospital might fall down." (lines 11-13) She is also somewhat obsessive in her commitment: "Once she starts making a list, it will not stop." (line 14)
