Question

Read the passage from Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, then answer the questions that follow.

"There was once a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surrounding. The town lay in the midst of a checkerboard of prosperous farms, with fields of grain and hillsides of orchards where, and spring, white clouds of bloom drifted above the green fields. In autumn, oak and maple and birch set up a blaze color that flamed and flickered across a backdrop of pines"
1. what is the subject/topic of this passage?
2. What are the words in this passage that convey tone about the town?
3. Is the tone positive or negative?
4. What can you conclude about the town based on the tone used?
5. Based on the tone, what do you think is the author's purpose in this passage?

Answer 1

The passage from Silent Spring presents an idyllic town in harmony with nature, using positive tone to evoke a sense of loss for what once was and to underscore the importance of environmental preservation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage from Rachel Carson's Silent Spring describes a town that appears to be existing in harmony with nature. The subject/topic of this passage is the idyllic and harmonious relationship between a town and its natural environment. Words that convey tone about the town include 'harmony,' 'prosperous,' 'white clouds of bloom,' 'green fields,' 'blaze of color,' 'flamed,' and 'flickered,' all of which contribute to a positive tone. Based on this tone, we can conclude that the town was once a place of environmental bliss and symbiosis. It reflects an idealized image of nature, invoking a sense of peace and balance. This tone is likely used by the author to contrast with the destructive consequences of pesticide use, which is the central theme of Silent Spring, to evoke a sense of nostalgia and loss for what once was, ultimately serving a persuasive purpose to raise awareness about environmental degradation.