In her 1962 work 'Silent Spring,' Rachel Carson writes about observing pesticide effects on bird populations. Carson describes feeling alarmed...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
In her 1962 work 'Silent Spring,' Rachel Carson writes about observing pesticide effects on bird populations. Carson describes feeling alarmed by the environmental damage, stating ______
Which quotation from 'Silent Spring' most effectively illustrates the claim?
'The sight of dead robins on the lawn filled me with a sense of impending catastrophe for all living things.'
'I documented the decline in bird populations across several geographic regions.'
'The chemical industry's response to environmental concerns was predictably defensive.'
'Spring arrived that year with unusual weather patterns affecting migration.'
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'In her 1962 work 'Silent Spring,' Rachel Carson writes about observing pesticide effects on bird populations.' |
|
| 'Carson describes feeling alarmed by the environmental damage, stating ______' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map: [CONTEXT: Carson's work on pesticides & birds] → [CLAIM: Carson felt alarmed by environmental damage] → [MISSING EVIDENCE: Quote needed to illustrate this alarm]
Main Point: We need to find a quotation that demonstrates Carson's alarmed emotional response to environmental damage.
Argument Flow: The passage briefly establishes the context of Carson's environmental work, then makes a specific claim about her emotional state that requires supporting evidence through a quotation.
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
- It should show Carson's personal emotional response to environmental problems
- The emotion should be negative - worry, fear, alarm, or distress
- It should connect specifically to environmental damage, not just general observations
- The language should convey urgency or strong concern about the situation
'The sight of dead robins on the lawn filled me with a sense of impending catastrophe for all living things.'
✓ Correct
- Shows Carson's direct emotional response ('filled me with a sense of impending catastrophe')
- Connects environmental observation (dead robins) to personal alarm
- Uses strong emotional language that clearly illustrates feeling alarmed
- Matches our prethinking perfectly by showing personal distress about environmental damage
'I documented the decline in bird populations across several geographic regions.'
✗ Incorrect
- Presents factual documentation of decline
- Lacks any emotional language or personal response
- Sounds clinical and scientific rather than alarmed
- What trap this represents: Students might think documenting environmental problems automatically shows alarm, but factual reporting doesn't illustrate emotional response
'The chemical industry's response to environmental concerns was predictably defensive.'
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on industry response rather than Carson's feelings
- Shows analysis of others' reactions, not Carson's personal alarm
- Doesn't demonstrate Carson's emotional state about environmental damage
'Spring arrived that year with unusual weather patterns affecting migration.'
✗ Incorrect
- Describes weather patterns and migration
- Contains no emotional language or sense of alarm
- Focuses on natural phenomena rather than environmental damage caused by human activity