Dr. Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' demonstrates her comprehensive grasp of ecological interconnections. Throughout the book, Carson shows her ability...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Dr. Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' demonstrates her comprehensive grasp of ecological interconnections. Throughout the book, Carson shows her ability to synthesize complex environmental relationships, arguing that ______
Which quotation from 'Silent Spring' most effectively illustrates this claim?
'Pesticide manufacturers have consistently downplayed the environmental risks of their products.'
'The death of birds in treated areas provides clear evidence of chemical toxicity.'
'In nature, nothing exists alone - each creature depends on others in an endless web of relationships.'
'Chemical residues accumulate in soil and water, persisting for years after application.'
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Dr. Rachel Carson's Silent Spring demonstrates her comprehensive grasp of ecological interconnections.' |
|
| 'Throughout the book, Carson shows her ability to synthesize complex environmental relationships, arguing that ______' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
- CONTEXT: Carson's expertise established
- CLAIM: Carson synthesizes complex environmental relationships
- [MISSING SUPPORTING ARGUMENT]
Main Point: Carson demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of ecological interconnections through her ability to synthesize complex environmental relationships.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Carson's expertise in ecological interconnections, then describes her method of synthesizing complex environmental relationships, leading to a missing argument that should illustrate this synthesis ability.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should show Carson understanding that environmental elements are interconnected rather than isolated
- Demonstrate her ability to see complex relationships between different parts of nature
- Reflect a synthesis or big-picture view rather than just describing a single environmental effect
'Pesticide manufacturers have consistently downplayed the environmental risks of their products.'
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on manufacturers' behavior and corporate responsibility
- This addresses business practices, not ecological interconnections
'The death of birds in treated areas provides clear evidence of chemical toxicity.'
✗ Incorrect
- Describes evidence of chemical toxicity through bird deaths
- While this shows environmental impact, it presents a single cause-and-effect relationship rather than interconnections
'In nature, nothing exists alone - each creature depends on others in an endless web of relationships.'
✓ Correct
- Directly states that nothing in nature exists independently and describes creatures depending on each other
- Perfectly illustrates Carson's grasp of ecological interconnections through the concept of relationships
'Chemical residues accumulate in soil and water, persisting for years after application.'
✗ Incorrect
- Describes chemical persistence and accumulation
- While this shows long-term environmental effects, it focuses on chemical behavior rather than biological interconnections