An environmental studies student is investigating Rachel Carson's influential work Silent Spring. Carson's research reveals how pesticide use affects ...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
An environmental studies student is investigating Rachel Carson's influential work Silent Spring. Carson's research reveals how pesticide use affects ecological systems and demonstrates that environmental damage often occurs through interconnected pathways - chemical runoff might simultaneously contaminate water supplies and disrupt food webs while habitat destruction compounds these effects - yet some conservation approaches can address multiple environmental challenges at once. The student argues that Carson emphasizes the necessity of integrated environmental action, asserting that fragmented conservation efforts frequently fail to achieve lasting protection.
Which quotation from an environmental historian's analysis of Silent Spring would best support the student's claim?
'When Carson examines the persistence of chemical pesticides, she warns that "These chemicals are now stored in the bodies of the vast majority of human beings, regardless of age." Her research demonstrates that pesticide contamination has become a universal rather than localized problem.'
'When Carson discusses agricultural alternatives, she proposes that "Biological control offers an intelligent, effective approach that takes advantage of the naturally occurring relationships between species." In particular, she advocates for pest management strategies that work with natural ecosystems rather than against them.'
'When Carson considers the scope of environmental challenges, she argues that "The control of nature is a phrase conceived in arrogance, born of the Neanderthal age of biology when it was supposed that nature exists for the convenience of man." She maintains that effective conservation requires recognizing the interconnectedness of all natural systems.'
'When Carson addresses the integration of conservation efforts, she states that "In nature nothing exists alone. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and conservation programs must reflect this reality through coordinated policies that address air, water, and soil protection simultaneously." This principle underlies her call for comprehensive environmental legislation.'
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'An environmental studies student is investigating Rachel Carson's influential work Silent Spring.' |
|
| 'Carson's research reveals how pesticide use affects ecological systems' |
|
| 'and demonstrates that environmental damage often occurs through interconnected pathways' |
|
| 'yet some conservation approaches can address multiple environmental challenges at once.' |
|
| 'The student argues that Carson emphasizes the necessity of integrated environmental action' |
|
| 'asserting that fragmented conservation efforts frequently fail to achieve lasting protection.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A student argues that Carson's Silent Spring demonstrates the necessity of integrated environmental action because fragmented conservation efforts often fail to provide lasting protection.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that Carson's research revealed how environmental damage occurs through interconnected pathways, with problems compounding each other. However, Carson also recognized that some conservation approaches can tackle multiple challenges simultaneously. Based on this, the student concludes that Carson advocates for integrated rather than fragmented environmental action.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which quotation would best support the student's specific claim about Carson's emphasis on integrated environmental action.
What type of answer do we need? A quote that demonstrates Carson advocating for comprehensive, coordinated environmental approaches rather than fragmented ones.
Any limiting keywords? 'Best support' means we need the strongest evidence for the student's argument, not just any relevant quote.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The student's claim has two key components: Carson emphasizes integrated environmental action, and fragmented efforts fail
- The correct quotation should show Carson explicitly advocating for comprehensive, coordinated approaches that address multiple environmental challenges simultaneously rather than piecemeal solutions
'When Carson examines the persistence of chemical pesticides, she warns that "These chemicals are now stored in the bodies of the vast majority of human beings, regardless of age." Her research demonstrates that pesticide contamination has become a universal rather than localized problem.'
- Focuses on pesticide contamination being universal rather than localized
- Doesn't address conservation approaches or the integration vs. fragmentation issue
- While it shows interconnectedness of problems, it doesn't support the claim about Carson advocating integrated action
'When Carson discusses agricultural alternatives, she proposes that "Biological control offers an intelligent, effective approach that takes advantage of the naturally occurring relationships between species." In particular, she advocates for pest management strategies that work with natural ecosystems rather than against them.'
- Discusses biological control as an alternative to chemical pesticides
- Advocates working 'with natural ecosystems rather than against them'
- Doesn't address the broader issue of integrating multiple conservation approaches
- Students might think 'working with ecosystems' equals 'integrated action,' but this focuses on one specific approach rather than coordinated multi-issue policies
'When Carson considers the scope of environmental challenges, she argues that "The control of nature is a phrase conceived in arrogance, born of the Neanderthal age of biology when it was supposed that nature exists for the convenience of man." She maintains that effective conservation requires recognizing the interconnectedness of all natural systems.'
- Emphasizes interconnectedness of natural systems and criticizes human arrogance
- Shows Carson understood system connections but doesn't specifically address conservation strategies
- Missing the key element about coordinated policies or integrated approaches to conservation
'When Carson addresses the integration of conservation efforts, she states that "In nature nothing exists alone. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and conservation programs must reflect this reality through coordinated policies that address air, water, and soil protection simultaneously." This principle underlies her call for comprehensive environmental legislation.'
- Directly states 'In nature nothing exists alone' - showing interconnectedness principle
- Explicitly calls for 'coordinated policies that address air, water, and soil protection simultaneously'
- Perfectly matches the student's claim that Carson emphasized integrated rather than fragmented approaches
- The phrase 'conservation programs must reflect this reality through coordinated policies' directly supports the argument about integrated environmental action