from Silent Spring Rhetorical Analysis

In paragraph 7, the writer suggests that insecticides can best be understood as:

• two hundred chemicals created to improve the biologic experience for insects

• the writer’s euphemism for the chemical Strontium 90

• a barrage of poisons regularly unleashed upon the surface of the earth

• chemicals that are proven to only harm specific “bad” insects

• nonselective chemicals that have the power to evolve naturally

The writer’s attitude toward the use of chemicals in paragraph 2 is best characterized as which of the following?

• The writer appears to be disinterested about the use of chemicals in day-to-day life.

• The writer expresses calmness about the use of chemicals in the environment.

• The writer demonstrates an attitude of hopefulness about what can be done about chemicals in the environment.

• The writer conveys a sense of bitterness and anger about chemicals in the environment.

• The writer projects a sense of urgency and distress about chemicals in the environment.

The writer of this passage might best be described as a:

• passionate and concerned individual with deep scientific knowledge

• speculative and reserved individual who explores the potential for disaster

• gritty and blunt news journalist bent on taking down chemical companies

• powerful and eloquent witness to the desecration of the animal life around her

• disgruntled and bitter amateur naturalist determined to ban all synthetic chemicals

The primary function of the sentence beginning “Only within the moment of time . . .” (par. 1) is to:

• encourage the reader to adopt an attitude of sensitivity toward the environment

• support the writer’s point that humanity cannot do anything to aid the environment

• celebrate the specific historical moment when humans began shaping the world

• provide contrast to the preceding situation, where nature shaped living things

• indicate the time span needed for a species to reach environmental dominance

As used in paragraph 7, the phrase “to still the song of birds” implies that the:

• birds develop a serious vocal condition where they can no longer make a single sound and the environment will be less enjoyable as a result of these changes

• other species, including birds, are deeply and irreversibly affected by the human-created changes to their environments, and many die as a result of these changes

• poetry of the natural world will begin to disappear as the use of chemicals continues and human art and literature will suffer as a result of these changes

• beauty and music present in the forests is fading as Strontium 90 decimates all life, and human life on earth is threatened as a result of these changes

• birds experience a momentary lull in song, having been temporarily disrupted by consuming the chemicals that humans are using on their habitats

In paragraph 2, the writer strengthens her argument by comparing the dispersal of chemical agents to:

• living tissues and bones

• a string of evil events

• devils unknowingly created by humanity

• poisoned, once pure wells

• a combination of wind and sun

In paragraph 2, the phrase “the chain of evil” is used primarily to:

• compare pollution to the destruction of living tissues

• reiterate the writer’s claim that chemicals are sinister

• concede that it will be years before the effects of pollution are realized

• appeal to the emotions of the audience

• offer a systematic pattern of logic to present factual information

The writer’s perspective in this passage is reflected in all of the following statements EXCEPT:

• Humans can be thoughtless and selfish; the results can be deadly.

• Humanity’s disregard for the natural world can result in violence to the Earth and its living beings.

• Humanity has great power to both destroy and redeem the flora and fauna of the natural world.

• Humanity’s actions toward the environment can be both intentional and cruel.

• Humanity is currently taking deliberate actions to restore the Earth and reverse environmental trends.

According to the passage, what is the primary reason that life struggles to adapt to new chemicals introduced by humans?

• The chemicals are too similar to natural elements, causing confusion in adaptation.

• The rate of introduction of new chemicals is too rapid for natural adaptation.

• The chemicals are designed to specifically target and eliminate pests.

• The chemicals are only harmful to non-human species.

• The chemicals are absorbed too quickly by the environment.

What does the writer imply about the relationship between humans and the environment in the modern world?

• Humans have always lived in harmony with the environment.

• The environment has become more resilient to human activities.

• Human activities have drastically altered the environment in a short time.

• The environment is slowly adapting to human-induced changes.

• Human influence on the environment is negligible.