Question

read the excerpt from silent spring.
the roadsides, once so attractive, were now lined with browned and withered vegetation as though swept by fire.
in this excerpt, the phrase best shows the author’s tone of despair.
\so attractive\

ow lined with\
\withered vegetation\
\as though swept\

Explanation:

To determine the phrase showing despair, analyze each: "so attractive" is positive, "now lined with" is neutral, "as though swept" is descriptive. "withered vegetation" depicts dead, damaged plants, conveying loss and despair about the environment’s decline.

Answer:

"withered vegetation"