Identify at least two central ideas, or overall messages, about the environment that the author develops in the excerpt from Silent Spring. Use details from the text to explain how these ideas are developed over the course of the text.

Reread paragraphs 1 and 2 of the excerpt from Silent Spring. Explain what the author is telling the reader about the town she’s describing. Cite at least two details from the text to support your response.

Reread paragraph 7 of the excerpt from Silent Spring. What can you infer that the “white granular powder” is? Support your inference using at least two details from the text and background knowledge.

Identify an argument or claim the author of the excerpt from Silent Spring is making, and explain how she supports it. Use relevant details from the text to support your answer

Does the author of the excerpt from Silent Spring give sound reasoning and sufficient evidence to support her claim? Use details from the text to support your answer.

What was the author’s purpose in writing the excerpt from Silent Spring? Explain how you know what her purpose was by using relevant details from the text.

Explain how the author distinguishes her own perspective on the events in the excerpt from Silent Spring from the perspective of others.