They did whatever had to be done about the farm and went back to the house feeling irritable with the discomfort and fearful for the wheat. Milt said nothing, but his silence was as ominous as that of the storm, broken only by the small pecking sound of the dust against the house. He was nervous, worried, but not yet quite hopeless. Julia tried to iron the clothes, but the dust, sifting in from places that had kept out even the wind, gave them a dirty grayness. She put the clothes away quietly, trying to make as little fuss as possible, knowing they were all on edge. She felt the dust in her clothes and on her skin, in her mouth and nose, on everything she touched.

Question

They did whatever had to be done about the farm and went back to the house feeling irritable with the discomfort and fearful for the wheat. Milt said nothing, but his silence was as ominous as that of the storm, broken only by the small pecking sound of the dust against the house. He was nervous, worried, but not yet quite hopeless. Julia tried to iron the clothes, but the dust, sifting in from places that had kept out even the wind, gave them a dirty grayness. She put the clothes away quietly, trying to make as little fuss as possible, knowing they were all on edge. She felt the dust in her clothes and on her skin, in her mouth and nose, on everything she touched.
From Sanora Babb, Whose Names Are Unknown. Copyright 2004 by Sanora Babb
The previous text suggested that the Dust Bowl resulted from damage to the Great Plains landscape. How does this historical novel build on or challenge that idea?
it suggest that effects of the dust bowl felt inescapable.
it shows ways that people entertained themseleves during the dust bowl.
it explain how farming practices improved during the dust bowl.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The historical novel "Whose Names Are Unknown" by Sanora Babb builds on the idea of the Dust Bowl as an inescapable phenomenon that profoundly affected people's lives and the landscape. The passage illustrates the persistent discomfort and anxiety caused by the dust, which infiltrates every aspect of the characters' lives, from their clothes to their wellbeing. Milt's ominous silence and Julia’s futile attempt to maintain cleanliness despite the pervasive dust reflect the suffocating impact of the natural disaster on their daily existence.

Instead of showcasing how people entertained themselves or detailing improvements in farming practices during the Dust Bowl, this excerpt emphasizes the overwhelming presence and consequences of the dust, reinforcing the notion that the effects of the Dust Bowl were both physical and psychological, leaving individuals feeling trapped and helpless in their situation. Overall, the text highlights the harsh realities faced by those living through the Dust Bowl, illustrating its inescapable effects on their lives.