Question

5 what is the main idea of this passage? a when olga owens huckins noticed several dead birds outside her home after the area had been sprayed with pesticides, she wrote to rachel carson. b ddt seemed useful at first because it could kill pests that destroy crops and carry diseases, but it actually was very dangerous to humans and animals. c rachel carson was a biologist and writer whose book silent spring warned people of the dangers of pesticides to the environment and living things. d rachel carson wrote many compelling stories from the perspectives of different animals and parts of nature, such as fish, birds, islands, and oceans.

Explanation:

To find the main idea, we analyze each option:

• Option A describes a specific event (Olga writing to Rachel) which is likely a detail, not the main idea.
• Option B focuses on DDT's pros and cons, but the passage (implied by Rachel Carson and Silent Spring context) is more about Carson's work on pesticides' dangers.
• Option C summarizes Rachel Carson's role as a biologist/writer and her book Silent Spring warning about pesticide dangers to environment and living things, which captures the main idea of the passage (likely about Carson's work on this topic).
• Option D talks about Carson's stories from nature's perspectives, which is not the main idea related to pesticides and Silent Spring.

Answer:

C. Rachel Carson was a biologist and writer whose book Silent Spring warned people of the dangers of pesticides to the environment and living things.