Silent Spring & Myth Review

Read the line from paragraph 1 in "Silent Spring".

“There was once a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings.” (paragraph 1)

How does the use of the words in the heart of America advance the author’s overall purpose?

• the words showcase the beauty of this town through the use of imagery

• the words help to set up a before-and-after structure

• the words serve the purpose of warning that this situation is serious and can happen in any typical town

• the words serve the purpose of making the reader feel a longing for the old ways in the country

What is the author’s main purpose for writing the passage "Silent Spring"?

• to inform readers on the dangers of misusing pesticides

• to persuade readers to take action and help preserve towns in “the heart” of the country

• to inform readers on the full scope of consequences from climate change

• to entertain readers through the use of vivid imagery

How does this line from paragraph 6 in "Silent Spring" contribute to the purpose identified in Part A?

“The roadsides, once so attractive, were now lined with brown and withered vegetation as though swept by fire.” (paragraph 6)

• The imagery showcases an example of the danger involved.

• The line helps the reader understand the type of action they must take.

• It confirms that with climate change comes uncertainty.

• The word choice stirs a sense of nostalgia in the reader which persuades them to preserve towns like this one.

How does the personification in paragraph 4 of "Silent Spring" best contribute to the overall meaning of the passage?

“On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens, and scores of other bird voices, there was no sound; only silence lay over the fields and woods and marsh.” (paragraph 4)

• It showcases how lively this town once was.

• It emphasizes the strong contrast of before and after that all Americans can face in their towns due to this environmental issue.

• It helps the reader understand the impact this problem can have on sounds in nature.

• It serves as further evidence as to why Americans should work hard to preserve a simple way of life.

How does the simile in paragraph 7 of "Silent Spring" best contribute to the overall tone of the passage?

“In the gutter under the eaves and between the shingles of the roofs, a white granular powder still showed a few patches; some weeks before it had fallen like snow upon the roofs and the lawns, the fields and streams.” (paragraph 7)

• The vivid language creates a tone of longing for winter months.

• It showcases the beauty of nature which adds a tone of wonder.

• It adds a tone of unavoidable doom as it reinforces how widespread this problem is.

• The reminder that winter is coming adds a grim tone to the overall passage.

Read this sentence from paragraph 4 of "Silent Spring".

“The few birds seen anywhere were moribund; they trembled violently and could not fly. “

The word moribund comes from the Latin mors and mortis meaning death. Based on this information and the context in which the word is used, which definition most closely matches the definition of moribund?

• a death that occurred long ago

• facing exhaustion from extreme cold

• near death

• to shake in an uncontrollable manner

Read the sentence from paragraph 9 of "Silent Spring".

“This town does not actually exist, but it might easily have a thousand counterparts in America or elsewhere in the world.” (paragraph 9)

Which word most closely matches the meaning of the word counterparts as it is used in paragraph 9?

• enemies

• a copy of a legal document

• opposite sites

• equivalents

Which quotation from How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun develops the theme of “Our mistakes become part of our identity”?

• “But the sun was so hot it burned his mouth and he dropped it.” (paragraph 4)

• “Now the sun was burning through Grandmother Spider’s bag but the Buzzard still kept flying up towards the top of the sky.” (paragraph 9)

• “To this day all foxes have black mouths because the first fox burned his carrying the sun.” (paragraph 4)

• “All of the animals agreed but none of them could reach up high enough.” (paragraph 8)

One implied theme of How Music Came to the World is “Music can unite people with joy”. What is another implied theme of How Music Came to the World?

• Kindness is better than cruelty when trying to get people to do what you want.

• Sometimes an individual must take charge and do what is right.

• All you need in life is a strong belief in yourself.

• Friends can help you through hard times.

Which of the following is a theme in both How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun and How Music Came to the World?

• A growth mindset can take you far in life.

• Laughter is the best medicine.

• Teamwork makes it easier to achieve your goals.

• Remaining hopeful helps you achieve your dreams.