Exploring the Text

1. What is Lewis Thomas’s complaint in the first paragraph? What does he find “disquieting”? Do you see evidence today of the trend that Thomas bemoans? Do you find it disquieting, or do you have a different perspective? Explain your response.

   Chapter 12 - Natural Man - Exploring the Text: What is Lewis Thomas’s complaint in the first paragraph? What does he find “disquieting”? Do you see evidence today of the trend that Thomas bemoans? Do you find it disquieting, or do you have a different perspective? Explain your response.
2. The first “Earth Day” celebration was on April 22, 1970, and it became international in 1990. Considering the increased environmental awareness we have experienced since the 1970s, have we achieved the “revolution for human thought” (para. 2) that Thomas mentions?

   Chapter 12 - Natural Man - Exploring the Text: The first “Earth Day” celebration was on April 22, 1970, and it became international in 1990. Considering the increased environmental awareness we have experienced since the 1970s, have we achieved the “revolution for human thought” (para. 2) that Thomas mentions?
3. What is Thomas’s attitude toward the preference he alludes to in paragraph 6?

   Chapter 12 - Natural Man - Exploring the Text: What is Thomas’s attitude toward the preference he alludes to in paragraph 6?
4. Why does Thomas regard the recognition that we are masters as a “despairing prospect” (para. 9)?

   Chapter 12 - Natural Man - Exploring the Text: Why does Thomas regard the recognition that we are masters as a “despairing prospect” (para. 9)?
5. How many times does Thomas use the pronoun “we”? What is its effect?

   Chapter 12 - Natural Man - Exploring the Text: How many times does Thomas use the pronoun “we”? What is its effect?
6. Do you agree with Thomas that “the earth risks being eutrophied” (para. 11)? Explain your response.

   Chapter 12 - Natural Man - Exploring the Text: Do you agree with Thomas that “the earth risks being eutrophied” (para. 11)? Explain your response.
7. Note the appositive for human beings that Thomas writes in paragraph 11. How does such a characterization affect the reader? How does it affect Thomas’s argument?

   Chapter 12 - Natural Man - Exploring the Text: Note the appositive for human beings that Thomas writes in paragraph 11. How does such a characterization affect the reader? How does it affect Thomas’s argument?
8. What rhetorical relationship does paragraph 13 have with the preceding paragraph?

   Chapter 12 - Natural Man - Exploring the Text: What rhetorical relationship does paragraph 13 have with the preceding paragraph?
9. What are the implications of the analogy Thomas develops in paragraph 13? How effectively does it serve his purpose? Explain your response.

   Chapter 12 - Natural Man - Exploring the Text: What are the implications of the analogy Thomas develops in paragraph 13? How effectively does it serve his purpose? Explain your response.