Question

Read the following excerpt from "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman:

Yet with each new acid-free rainfall, trees that still endure
will have fewer contaminants to resist as chemicals are
gradually flushed from the system. Over centuries,
vegetation will take up decreasing levels of heavy metals,
and will recycle, redeposit, and dilute them further. As
plants die, decay, and lay down more soil cover, the
industrial toxins will be buried deeper, and each
succeeding crop of native seedlings will do better.
Which best explains how the structure of this passage supports the author's
purpose?

Answer 1

The structure of this passage supports the author's purpose by presenting a vision of how the natural world might recover from the damage caused by human activity. The author suggests that even though industrial toxins have contaminated the soil, water, and air, there is hope for the environment. By describing how acid-free rainfall and natural processes of decay and soil deposition can gradually reduce the levels of toxins in the environment, the author implies that the damage done by humans can be undone over time. The passage is structured to show how the natural world has the capacity to heal itself, and to suggest that human efforts to protect the environment could help accelerate this process. Overall, the passage supports the author's purpose of encouraging readers to reflect on their impact on the environment, and to consider ways in which they can help to reduce the harm caused by human activity.