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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Carson wonders - How can we as __________ beings continue to allow such rampant and unjustified killings?

2. Large-scale, single-crop farming eliminates the _______________ that provided built in control of pests.

3. Where was the population of Japanese Beetles effectively controlled?

4. The town Carson describes _________ actually exist.

5. The roadsides are lush with trees, ferns, and ____________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What were the results of the gypsy moth spraying in 1956?

2. What are the smallest organisms on the Earth which live in the soil?

3. What kinds of trees are in the forests described in this chapter?

4. What is the environmental problem that results from all of the water sources of the Earth being connected to each other?

5. What were some of the lies the government told about the fire any population?

6. What does Carson say the major public health problems used to be caused by?

7. According to Carson, what does a chemically weakened environment open the door to?

8. Why do the tourists come to see the birds, as stated in this opening chapter?

9. What was the cause of the salmon population downfall in the Miramichi River?

10. What is contained in food that is another source of lethal chemicals in the human body?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Animals are just as affected by the use of insecticides and pesticides as the pests themselves.

Part 1: What are some of the ways in which animals are affected by the chemical use?

Part 2: How are the animals exposed to the chemicals in the first place?

Part 3: What might be the long term affects of the harm of animals in the world?

Essay Topic 2

In the chapter, "Rivers of Death," the plight of the salmon is described in detail.

Part 1: What is the problem with the salmon as described by Carson?

Part 2: How might this problem have affected the surrounding areas?

Part 3: Why can't the fish population help itself? What are some of the ways in which they are going to have a lot of troubles rebounding from this decimation?

Essay Topic 3

Life is something that has existed for millions of years, but the introduction of humans has altered the way life has changed.

Part 1: What does Carson have to say about the way humans have affected the world around them?

Part 2: What does Carson say about how the environment generally interacts with itself?

Part 3: What does Carson mean by the idea that "life does not have the luxury of time?"

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 598 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample