Essay Questions

Explain the predominant theme in “In the Beginning”.

Genetic Engineering: “The cells were perfect-or so it seemed. Each was furnished with all it needed to grow…The cell already understood what colour hair it was to have, how tall it would become, and even whether it preferred spinach or broccoli. It might even have a hazy desire for music or crossword puzzles.” The predictability of the calf’s characteristics are typical in genetic engineering. Relevant features are modified genetically, in a lab setting to ensure that the calf would come out with all the desired features.

Why does Matt block Celia from exiting the house? - “The Little House in the Poppy Fields”

Farmer writes, “ The house was so lonely without Celia singing, banging pots, or talking about people he had never seen and never would see. Even when Celia was asleep - and she fell asleep easily after long hours of cooking at the Big Hose-the rooms felt full of her warm presence.” Matt is attached to Celia; her leaving makes him to feel that she is abandoned. Matt does not understand that Celia’s leaving is important for their sustenance considering that he is young. Matt yearns for the presence of Celia in his life; hence, he does not delight in her absence, which makes him lonesome.