Question

read the excerpt from silent spring. in the gutters 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. which best explains how the phrase \white granular powder\ supports the authors purpose of calling attention to the environment? \bigcirc the powder is an unnatural substance. \bigcirc the powder has a texture like sugar. \bigcirc the powder looks like freshly fallen snow. \bigcirc the powder is used in house construction.

Explanation:

To determine the best explanation, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Stating it's an unnatural substance doesn't directly connect to environmental attention via the "white granular powder" phrase.
• Option B: Comparing the powder to sugar (a common, unnatural substance) and noting it's on natural areas (roofs, lawns, fields, streams) emphasizes its unnatural presence in the environment, supporting the author's environmental purpose.
• Option C: Comparing to snow is descriptive but doesn't highlight the environmental concern as much as its unnatural nature.
• Option D: The powder's use in construction is not related to the environmental purpose here.

So Option B best explains how the phrase supports the author's environmental purpose.

Answer:

B. The powder has a texture like sugar.