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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Attempts to control a particular ________ in Clear Lake, California resulted in massive bird death.

2. Other crops show signs of damage or ______ when planted in contaminated soil.

3. What is the name of the naturally occurring mineral that is toxic to humans and most creatures but is still used as a pesticide?

4. How long can chemicals remain in the soil to which they are applied?

5. What is used to pollinate the plants and to pollinate the trees?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the chemical arsenic, what it does, and how it is used in the world in today's times.

2. What do the mitochondria of cells do within the body?

3. How is the development of chemical resistance within the insect population a strong example of natural selection?

4. What has happened with synthetic pesticides within less than twenty years of their existence?

5. What happens when plants grow within the chemically-laced soil?

6. What is contained in food that is another source of lethal chemicals in the human body?

7. What is happening to insects, even though there have been mass applications of chemicals to get rid of them?

8. What are some of the diseases that insects can carry which are harmful to humans?

9. What is the basis of all life function, according to Carson's writing in this chapter?

10. Where does radiation tend to occur naturally, as it has for many years before the time of the humans?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The water in the world may be plentiful, but that does not necessarily mean it is usable for humans.

Part 1: Why is much of the water on the Earth not drinkable?

Part 2: What are some causes for the most recent water pollution findings?

Part 3: How do pollutants travel from one water source to another?

Essay Topic 2

Carson offers solutions to the troubles of 'weeds' and insects as well, not just a litany of troubles that are being caused by man's need for control.

Part 1: What are some ways Carson says one could naturally control the spread of 'weeds'?

Part 2: What are some of the ways Carson suggests to control insects that are unwanted in a particular area?

Part 3: Doesn't any form of control harm the environment? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Pests are some of the main targets of chemicals in the world. Humans try to kill pests every chance they get, in a variety of different ways and for numerous reasons.

Part 1: What are some of the pests humans try to rid the world of?

Part 2: What happens when a pest is eradicated from an area?

Part 3: What happens to the soil that is in the area where the pests have been eradicated?

(see the answer keys)

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