Questions for Discussion

1. Why does Rachel Carson begin with “There was once a town . . . ,” as though she were writing a fairy tale? Is this a fairy tale of sorts? How does Carson present the town in paragraphs 1 and 2?

   Chapter 12 - from Silent Spring - Questions for Discussion: Why does Rachel Carson begin with “There was once a town . . . ,” as though she were writing a fairy tale? Is this a fairy tale of sorts? How does Carson present the town in paragraphs 1 and 2?
2. Carson claims in paragraph 12 that “[t]he most alarming of . . . assaults upon the environment is the contamination of air, earth, rivers, and sea with dangerous and even lethal materials.” Is contamination still the most alarming assault on the environment, or has another problem taken its place? Explain your response.

   Chapter 12 - from Silent Spring - Questions for Discussion: Carson claims in paragraph 12 that “[t]he most alarming of . . . assaults upon the environment is the contamination of air, earth, rivers, and sea with dangerous and even lethal materials.” Is contamination still the most alarming assault on the environment, or has another problem taken its place? Explain your response.
3. In paragraph 16, Carson claims that humankind is engaged in a “war against nature” and describes the targets of that war. Do you agree that targeting certain things for destruction (or at least control) means we are at war with nature? Can we be at war with something that is not our intended target? Explain.

   Chapter 12 - from Silent Spring - Questions for Discussion: In paragraph 16, Carson claims that humankind is engaged in a “war against nature” and describes the targets of that war. Do you agree that targeting certain things for destruction (or at least control) means we are at war with nature? Can we be at war with something that is not our intended target? Explain.
4. Carson says the products used to kill bugs should be called “biocides” instead of “insecticides” (para. 17). Why? What is the difference?

   Chapter 12 - from Silent Spring - Questions for Discussion: Carson says the products used to kill bugs should be called “biocides” instead of “insecticides” (para. 17). Why? What is the difference?
5. What has changed since Carson wrote Silent Spring? Has the natural environment improved? Has it declined? Since Carson’s time, have we become more concerned with the effect we have on nature—or less concerned? Explain your response.

   Chapter 12 - from Silent Spring - Questions for Discussion: What has changed since Carson wrote Silent Spring? Has the natural environment improved? Has it declined? Since Carson’s time, have we become more concerned with the effect we have on nature—or less concerned? Explain your response.
6. What does Jean Rostand mean by our “obligation to endure” (para. 36)? How is our “right to know” related to this obligation?

   Chapter 12 - from Silent Spring - Questions for Discussion: What does Jean Rostand mean by our “obligation to endure” (para. 36)? How is our “right to know” related to this obligation?