We have included the questions that appear below the artworks that open each chapter, the journal prompts from the text's color insert, the “In Your Own Words,” and the “Art of Writing” exercises so that you can submit your answers to your instructor via e-mail, should he or she direct you to do so.

From the textbook: Responding to Art, View and Reflect, In Your Own Words, The Art of Writing

Response to Art (page 272)

Study the painting Mona Lisa (1503) by Leonardo da Vinci (on page 272 and in the color insert on page 10 of the text).

1			Some experts believe that it is Monda Lisa's enigmatic smile that fascinates viewers. Others content that her amasing eye contact—her gaze seems to follow the viewer across the room—is the paintings special allure. What do you think makes so many long to see the Mona Lisa?
2			The painting was a favorite of da Vinci's, who was unwilling to part with it. It even accompanied him to the court of Francis I of France, where he died in 1519. Why do you think da Vinci was so attached to this painting?
3			What is your opinion of this famous work of art?

In Your Own Words (page 282)

4			Read the daily horoscope in your local newspaper or on the Internet. Does the horoscope for your astrological sign seem to apply to you? Read what is written for people with other astrological signs. Does that information seem to apply equally as well to you? Does this lead you to any conclusions about astrological forecasts?

In Your Own Words (page 291)

5			Have you ever sought alternative forms of treatment for a health condition? Do you know someone who has? Would you consider using a nutritional supplement as a treatment? Would you tell your regular physician you were taking a dietary supplement? Why or why not?

The Art of Writing (page 292)

6			Elderly people are particularly susceptible to fraudulent claims for products promising new, quick, or easy ways to stay thin, strong, or attractive. How can we protect this group in particular from falling under the spell of quacks?
7			In 2001, the Federal Trade Commission reviewed 300 weight-loss ads for 218 dietary supplements: 40 percent of the ads were found to have made at least one statement that was absolutely false, and 55 percent of the ads made a claim that was very likely to be false or at the least lacked adequate substantiation. A comparison with ads that had run in 1992 revealed that deceptive advertising has significantly increased. Since 1990, the FTC has filed 93 cases against false weight loss claims. Despite their efforts, FTC chairman Timothy Muris says, "The problem is getting worse, not better." What do you think should be done to improve the current situation?
8			Recently supplement use by minors has come under scrutiny. It is estimated that more than one million minors nationwide have used nutritional supplements. In addition to weight-loss products, supplements such as creatine and androstenedione are particularly popular with high school, college, and professional athletes. In the last ten years, sales of creatine, a product designed to increase muscle mass, grew by more than 900 percent. "People think if they can buy these products at a so-called health food store, it can be good for them," said Iris Shaffer, executive director of Healthy Competition Foundation in Chicago, which has been studying the use of supplements and youth since 1999. During the last decade, the dietary supplement industry has doubled its annual revenues. A large part of that increased revenue has been sales to teenagers. Supplement use by youth is of particular concern of the Food and Drug Administration because the long-term effects are unknown. What can be done to keep supplements out of the hands of the young? Right now supplements are "affordable, available, and legal" and popular with the young high school athlete. Should we try to restrict their use by young people? Or will young people just turn to the black market?

OLC Extra! Reflections on Reading and Study Skills

These Reflections on Reading and Study Skills exercises provide an opportunity for you to think about the skills you learned in the textbook. To complete these exercises and e-mail them to your instructor, type your response in the blank provided here or type your response in a word-processing program and copy and paste it here. Next, edit and proofread your answer carefully. Then insert your instructor's e-mail address in the "to" line and hit "send."

9			In order to be a critical reader, you must be able to tell the difference between fact and opinion. Think of a time when you read something that tried to pass opinions off as facts. When an author does this, what is his or her most likely purpose? To inform, entertain, or persuade?
10			After reading the test taking tips for improving your performance on essay tests, what do you think you will do differently to prepare for your next essay exam? Which tips can be expanded to improve ANY essays you may write in the future, whether as a test or another class assignment?