Silent Spring Chapters 1-3 Flashcards
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Questions and Answers

What happens to the town in this first chapter?

The town was once a prosperous countryside full of farms and abundant with cattle and crops. Then something happened and cattle sickened and died and there was illness in humans too. Birds were gone too.

How does the title of the book relate to the town's situation?

There was a stillness to the town as birds were gone and there were not as much cattle because they died. There weren't as many insects and everything was lifeless. It was silent.

What truth is Carson trying to convey?

The truth is that pesticides are harming multiple things (human body, crops, environment).

According to Carson, how are humans unique?

<p>Humans are the only living thing that has actually significantly altered the nature of Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the meaning of 'super races' and 'flarebacks.'

<p>'Super races' are resistant to insecticides, making pesticides deadlier, while 'flarebacks' mean a resurgence of insects in greater numbers than before.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Is the invention of new chemicals by humans faster or slower than nature alone? Why is this a problem for living things?

<p>This is faster than nature alone. Living things have to adapt to something each year relatively quickly that is outside limits of biologic experience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Carson say is 'the central problem of our age'?

<p>Contamination of man's total environment with substances of potential for harm.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does she call insecticides by the name of 'biocides'?

<p>They kill all life rather than just the targeted victims, resulting in an endless spiral as it kills the good and the bad.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why has modern farming practices increased the impact of harmful insects?

<p>Farmers devote a lot of acreage to a single crop, allowing insecticides to support larger populations of harmful insects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Approximately what percent of the 180 major pest insects in the U.S. came from abroad?

<p>50%</p> Signup and view all the answers

We live in an area of _________ that is dominated by _______.

Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the town in this first chapter?

<p>The town was once a prosperous countryside full of farms and abundant with cattle and crops. Then something happened and cattle sickened and died, and there was illness in humans too. Birds were gone too.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the title of the book relate to the town's situation?

<p>There was a stillness to the town as birds were gone and there was not as much cattle because they died. There weren't as many insects and everything was lifeless. It was silent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What truth is Carson trying to convey through her narrative?

<p>The truth is that pesticides are harming multiple things, including the human body, crops, and the environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Carson, how are humans unique?

<p>Humans are the only living thing that has actually significantly altered the nature of Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the meaning of 'super races' and 'flarebacks' regarding DDT spraying.

<p>'Super races' refer to insects that are resistant to insecticides, causing pesticides to become deadlier. A flareback is a resurgence of an insect in greater numbers than before.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How fast do new chemicals get invented by humans compared to nature?

<p>Humans invent 500 new chemicals yearly, which is faster than nature alone.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Carson say is 'the central problem of our age'?

<p>Contamination of man's total environment with substances that have the potential for harm.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Carson refer to insecticides as 'biocides'?

<p>They kill all life rather than just the targeted victims, resulting in an endless spiral as they kill both good and bad organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why have modern farming practices increased the impact of harmful insects?

<p>Farmers devote a lot of acreage to a single crop, allowing insecticides to have a larger impact on those populations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percent of the 180 major pest insects in the U.S. came from abroad?

<p>50%</p> Signup and view all the answers

We live in an area of _________ that is dominated by _______.

Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the town in the first chapter?

<p>The town was once a prosperous countryside full of farms and abundant with cattle and crops. Then something happened, and cattle sickened and died, and there was illness in humans too. Birds were gone too.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the title of the book relate to the town's situation?

<p>There was a stillness to the town as birds were gone, and there was not as much cattle because they died. There weren't as many insects, and everything was lifeless. It was silent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What truth is Carson trying to convey in her fable?

<p>The truth is that pesticides are harming multiple things (human body, crops, environment).</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Carson, how are humans unique?

<p>Humans are the only living thing that has actually significantly altered the nature of Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the meanings of 'super races' and 'flarebacks'.

<p>'Super races' refer to insects that are resistant to insecticides, making pesticides deadlier. A 'flareback' is a resurgence of an insect in greater numbers than before.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Is the invention of new chemicals by humans faster or slower than nature alone? Why is this a problem for living things?

<p>This is faster than nature alone. Living things have to adapt relatively quickly to something each year that is outside the limits of biological experience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Carson say is 'the central problem of our age'?

<p>The contamination of man's total environment with substances that have potential for harm.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does she call insecticides by the name of 'biocides'?

<p>They kill all life rather than just the targeted victims, resulting in an endless spiral as it kills both good and bad organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why have modern farming practices increased the impact of harmful insects?

<p>Farmers devote a lot of acreage to a single crop, allowing insecticides to foster larger populations of pests.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Approximately what percent of the 180 major pest insects in the U.S. came from abroad?

<p>50%</p> Signup and view all the answers

We live in an area of _________ that is dominated by _______.

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Town's Situation

  • Once a thriving countryside, now devastated with sick and dying cattle, coupled with human illnesses.
  • Complete disappearance of birds contributed to a lifeless, silent environment.

Relation of Title to Town's Situation

  • Silence symbolizes the absence of life (birds, insects, and cattle) indicating ecological disaster.

Main Truth of the Fable

  • Pesticides are damaging human health, crops, and the environment, revealing the adverse consequences of their use.

Uniqueness of Humans

  • Humans are distinct in their significant alterations to Earth's natural ecosystems.

Concepts of "Super Races" and "Flarebacks"

  • "Super races" refer to insect populations that develop resistance to pesticides, leading to more deadly chemicals.
  • "Flarebacks" occur when insect populations rebound and exceed previous levels due to evolutionary adaptations.

Rate of Chemical Production

  • Approximately 500 new chemicals are introduced each year, outpacing natural adaptation capabilities of living organisms.

Central Problem of the Age

  • Environmental contamination through harmful substances poses significant risks to all life forms.

Term "Biocides"

  • Insecticides are termed "biocides" as they indiscriminately kill all life forms, creating ecological imbalances.

Impact of Modern Farming Practices

  • Monoculture farming increases insect populations and resistance issues, leading to greater pest pressures.

Foreign Pest Insects

  • About 50% of major pest insects in the U.S. originate from other countries.

Industrial Dominance

  • Modern society is heavily influenced by specialists and industry.

Corporate Attitude Towards Pesticides

  • Companies prioritize profit over environmental and human health, downplaying the dangers of pesticides.

Carson's Stance on Pesticide Use

  • Advocates for responsible chemical use, emphasizing the need for environmentally friendly alternatives.

Synthetic Pesticide Production During WWII

  • The war accelerated the development of synthetic pesticides, initially tested on insects for lethality to humans.

Use of Arsenic

  • Arsenic is an ancient pesticide that still sees use despite declines in its application in some regions.

Major Groups of Organic Pesticides

  • There are two primary categories: chlorinated hydrocarbons and phosphorus insecticides.

Carbon Manipulation in Chemicals

  • Carbon's versatility allows chemists to create potent pesticides by altering its chemical structure.

DDT Storage in Fatty Tissues

  • DDT accumulates in fatty tissues, significantly affecting organs like the adrenals, testes, and thyroid.

Sinister Feature of DDT

  • DDT can be transferred through all food chain links, escalating environmental contamination.

FDA Findings on DDT

  • Factors prompting reevaluation of DDT's safety included low-level storage, accumulation effects, and liver damage occurrences.

Dieldrin's Use and Consequences

  • Dieldrin was used against malaria mosquitoes resistant to DDT, leading to severe health risks for exposed individuals.

Endrin Poisoning Case

  • An incident in Venezuela highlighted severe health implications from endrin exposure resulting in fatalities and lasting impairments.

Organic Phosphate Insecticides and Nerve Impulses

  • These insecticides disrupt the enzyme cholinesterase, preventing timely nerve signal termination, leading to severe reactions.

Malathion's Safety Consideration

  • Malathion is deemed "safe" due to detoxifying liver enzymes, though risky when combined with other chemicals.

Concept of Potentiation

  • Potentiation occurs when combined substances produce enhanced effects compared to their isolated impacts.

Systemic Insecticides

  • Systemic insecticides change crops and animals into toxic entities; useful for pest control but risk harming pollinators and human health.

Herbicides and Mutagenic Effects

  • Some herbicides are classified as mutagens, meaning they can alter genetic inheritance, posing ecological and health threats.

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Description

Explore the key concepts from the first three chapters of Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring'. This quiz highlights the impact of pesticides on the environment and the resulting silence that descends upon the land. Test your knowledge with these flashcards that encapsulate the essence of the book's opening.

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