Yet every one of these disasters has actually happened somewhere, and many real communities have already suffered a substantial number of them. A grim specter has crept upon us almost unnoticed, and this imagined tragedy may easily become a stark reality we all shall know.
Which words and phrases from the excerpt best support the author’s purpose of creating a sense of alarm about the environment? Select four options.
these disasters
actually
happened
grim specter
almost unnoticed
tragedy
stark reality
2. Read the sentence from the first paragraph of Silent Spring.
Then foxes barked in the hills and deer silently crossed the fields, half hidden in the mists of the fall mornings.
In this sentence, Carson mostly uses a ?cautios?peaceful?frightened?melanchonic?
tone.
3. Which best compares the structure of Silent Spring and "A Case for Waawaatesi"?
Silent Spring primarily utilizes emotional appeals to alert the reader of possible future danger, while the argument in “A Case for Waawaatesi” includes more use of logic and reason.
Silent Spring starts with general statements and ends with specific statements, while “A Case for Waawaatesi” starts with specific statements and ends with general statements.
Silent Spring mostly appeals to readers’ logic, while “A Case for Waawaatesi” appeals to readers’ ethos by establishing the author’s credibility.
Silent Spring starts with a negative tone and ends with a positive tone, while “A Case for Waawaatesi” starts with a positive tone and ends with a positive tone.
4. Which best describes one main difference between Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and Winona LaDuke’s "A Case for Waawaatesi"?
Carson is concerned about the destruction of the entire environment, while LaDuke is only concerned about a certain part of the environment.
Carson speaks of a possible future, while LaDuke discusses only what has happened in the past.
Carson believes that the past was just as bad as the present, while LaDuke believes that the present is worse than the past.
Carson offers facts and evidence to support her argument, while LaDuke appeals to readers’ emotions.
5. Read the excerpt from Silent Spring.
It was a spring without voices. On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens, and scores of other bird voices there was now no sound; only silence lay over the fields and woods and marsh.
In this excerpt, which phrase carries the most positive tone?
a spring without voices
the mornings that had once throbbed
the dawn chorus of robins
only silence lay over the fields
6. Read this excerpt from Silent Spring.
Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything began to change. Some evil spell had settled on the community: mysterious maladies swept the flocks of chickens; the cattle and sheep sickened and died. Everywhere was a shadow of death. The farmers spoke of much illness among their families.
Which word best describes the tone used in both excerpts?
frustrated
passionate
wishful
insincere
Read this excerpt from "A Case for Waawaatesi".
Think of it this way, your ancestors navigated by the stars, and today most people won’t walk outside without a GPS. That’s a crazy loss of direction or skill at some level for sure. And while Indigenous peoples and many rural peoples can still see the stars, most of the world’s population cannot. That’s particularly an urban thing, where there’s all this light. From my farm, through the open skies, at night I can see the glow of Detroit Lakes, and that’s 25 miles away.
7. Read the excerpt from Silent Spring.
On the farms the hens brooded, but no chicks hatched. The farmers complained that they were unable to raise any pigs—the litters were small and the young survived only a few days. The apple trees were coming into bloom but no bees droned among the blossoms, so there was no pollination and there would be no fruit.
What kind of tone do the underlined words create?
bewildered
threatening
courageous
insignificant
8. Read the excerpt from Silent Spring.
On the farms the hens brooded, but no chicks hatched. The farmers complained that they were unable to raise any pigs—the litters were small and the young survived only a few days. The apple trees were coming into bloom but no bees droned among the blossoms, so there was no pollination and there would be no fruit.
The repetition of the word “no” in this excerpt helps create a tone of
motivation.
doom.
acceptance.
violence.
9. Read this sentence from Silent Spring.
Along the roads, laurel, viburnum and alder, great ferns and wildflowers delighted the traveler's eye through much of the year.
Which best states a comparison of the tones used in these excerpts?
Both excerpts are negative, but the second excerpt has a more negative tone.
Both excerpts are positive, but the first excerpt has a more serious tone.
Both excerpts are despairing, but the first excerpt has a gloomier tone.
Both excerpts are uplifting, but the second excerpt is more conversational in tone.
Read the excerpt from "A Case for Waawaatesi."
It turns out that being dark part of the time is a good idea for animals, and for ourselves. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.
10. Read the excerpt from Silent Spring.
In the gutters under the eaves and between the shingles of the roofs, a white granular powder still showed a few patches; some weeks before it had fallen like snow upon the roofs and the lawns, the fields and streams.
Which best explains how the phrase “white granular powder” supports the author’s purpose of calling attention to the environment?
The powder is an unnatural substance.
The powder has a texture like sugar.
The powder looks like freshly fallen snow.
The powder is used in house construction.
3 answers
Here are the answers to your questions based on the excerpts from "Silent Spring" and "A Case for Waawaatesi":
Which words and phrases from the excerpt best support the author’s purpose of creating a sense of alarm about the environment?
these disasters
grim specter
tragedy
stark reality
In this sentence, Carson mostly uses a tone of:
peaceful
Which best compares the structure of Silent Spring and "A Case for Waawaatesi"?
Silent Spring primarily utilizes emotional appeals to alert the reader of possible future danger, while the argument in “A Case for Waawaatesi” includes more use of logic and reason.
Which best describes one main difference between Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and Winona LaDuke’s "A Case for Waawaatesi"?
Carson is concerned about the destruction of the entire environment, while LaDuke is only concerned about a certain part of the environment.
In this excerpt, which phrase carries the most positive tone?
the dawn chorus of robins
Which word best describes the tone used in both excerpts?
passionate
What kind of tone do the underlined words create?
bewildered
The repetition of the word “no” in this excerpt helps create a tone of:
doom.
Which best states a comparison of the tones used in these excerpts?
Both excerpts are despairing, but the first excerpt has a gloomier tone.
Which best explains how the phrase “white granular powder” supports the author’s purpose of calling attention to the environment?
The powder is an unnatural substance.
Let me know if you need further assistance!
7. threatening
9. Both excerpts are uplifting, but the second excerpt is more conversational in tone.
It seems you have different answers for questions 7 and 9. Let's clarify them:
In the excerpt from "Silent Spring," the tone created by the underlined words "unable to raise any pigs—the litters were small and the young survived only a few days," reflects a sense of doom or threatening nature due to the severity of the situation described. However, the more prevalent interpretation in the context of the entire passage tends to lean towards doom, as it signifies loss and tragedy, which aligns closely with the overall tone of Carson’s work.
In the context of the excerpts you provided, it would be more accurate to say: "Both excerpts are negative, but the first excerpt has a more serious tone" or "Both excerpts are despairing, but the first excerpt has a gloomier tone." However, your choice might stem from a different interpretation of the tone you felt was conveyed.
If you have specific reasoning or context that leads you to those answers, feel free to share! It's always interesting to delve into different interpretations of the text.
