1: What observations did Rachel Carson make about her environment? Explain in detail.
The town was surrounded with farms. The trees were deciduous. Biodiversity was high in the town and the many species of animals and birds were able to make the town "colorful".
2: How have chemicals changed the environment? What is DDT? What is it used for and what
are the consequences of its use?
The chemicals basically poisoned the environment. The species were either getting sick or killed whether it were humans, plants, or animals. DDT is a pesticide that is meant to kill pests but this chemical is also poisonous to many other animals.
3: Carson uses Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Less Traveled, as an analogy for making choices
about our future- what does she say about what we must do?
"if, knowing, we have concluded that we are being asked to take senseless and frightening risks, then we should no longer accept the counsel of those who tell us that we must fill our world with poisonous chemicals; we should look about and see what other course is open to us"
4: This book was written in 1962- have people heeded the warning about the toxins in our
environment?
Yes, many people have heeded this warning. The banning of this drug was able to stop the use of DDT.
5: What is your opinion of the book excerpt? Explain.
I think the excerpt was great. It was able to turn the world and a really big problem into an artsy and creative point of view. The book shows that we shouldn't go straight to the solution of killing. There are many options to help benefit us and the environment, we just need to find the drive us towards the better option though it is more difficult.