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

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.

Answer 1

The text suggests that the effects of the Dust Bowl were felt as inescapable, as demonstrated by the pervasive presence of dust that invaded every aspect of the characters' lives, from their clothing to their physical comfort. The imagery of dust settling everywhere conveys a sense of hopelessness and discomfort that underscores the impact of the environmental disaster.

While the excerpt does not delve into ways people entertained themselves during this time or explain improvements in farming practices, it explicitly reflects the characters' anxieties and challenges stemming from the Dust Bowl. The silence and nervousness of the characters, alongside the omnipresent dust, highlight the overwhelming nature of their circumstances and the profound effects of the degraded landscape on their daily existence.

Thus, the novel builds on the idea of the Dust Bowl as a damaging phenomenon by illustrating how its repercussions were felt in an all-encompassing manner, rather than exploring entertainment or advancements in farming practices during that period.