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 authors 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, "withered vegetation" describes dead plants (conveying loss/hopelessness), "as though swept" is descriptive but less emotive. Despair comes from the dead vegetation, so "withered vegetation" fits.

Answer:

"withered vegetation"