Question 86·Medium·Command of Evidence
In her biography of environmentalist Rachel Carson, historian Lily Huang contends that Carson’s groundbreaking 1962 book Silent Spring reshaped US environmental policy. The book’s detailed documentation of pesticide dangers directly prompted the federal government to restrict the use of DDT within a decade of its publication.
Which statement, if true, would most strongly support the claim in the bolded sentence?
For “Which statement would most strongly support the claim?” questions, first underline the key parts of the claim: who is involved, what happened, and any cause-and-effect or time frame. Then scan the choices for the one that, if true, would most directly confirm that exact relationship—usually by showing the same people or institutions taking the described action for the stated reason. Be wary of answers that are just background facts (like popularity or unrelated trends); the best support choice will explicitly connect the claim’s cause to its effect.
Hints
Restate the claim
Reread the bolded sentence and identify its cause and effect. Ask yourself: What is the book supposed to have done, and who is supposed to have reacted?
Look for a direct link to government action
Which choice gives the clearest evidence that the US federal government changed its policy on DDT as a result of something related to Silent Spring?
Ignore mere background facts
Be careful with answers that only show the book was popular, that others were concerned about DDT, or that trends were already happening. Which option shows a specific decision or policy stance by US federal officials connected to the book?
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify what the bolded claim is saying
The bolded sentence makes a cause-and-effect claim:
- Cause: Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring and its detailed documentation of pesticide dangers.
- Effect: The US federal government restricted the use of DDT.
- Timing: This restriction happened within a decade (about 10 years) of the book’s 1962 publication.
So we need evidence that the government restricted DDT because of the book, not just that both happened around the same time.
Identify what strong supporting evidence would look like
To strongly support this claim, a statement should:
- Involve the US federal government (for example, Congress or federal agencies).
- Show a direct link between Silent Spring and government action on DDT.
- Fit the timeframe (roughly 1962–1972).
The best answer will clearly connect the book to the government’s decision to restrict or ban DDT.
Test choice A against the claim
A) US farmers had already begun to reduce DDT use in the late 1950s because many insect species were developing resistance to the chemical.
- This is before 1962, so it happens before Silent Spring was published.
- It talks about farmers’ behavior, not federal government policy.
- The cause here is insect resistance, not the book.
This does not show that the government restricted DDT because of Silent Spring, so it does not strongly support the claim and may even weaken it by suggesting other reasons for reduced DDT use.
Test choice B against the claim
B) Multiple international agencies were investigating the environmental effects of DDT during the 1960s, independent of any US initiatives.
- This is about international agencies, not the US federal government.
- They are investigating DDT, not necessarily restricting it.
- The phrase “independent of any US initiatives” suggests these efforts are not connected to the US government or its response to Silent Spring.
So this choice does not connect Silent Spring to US federal restrictions on DDT.
Test choice C against the claim
C) Silent Spring sold more than one million copies in the United States within five years of its release.
- This shows that the book was popular and widely read.
- But popularity alone does not prove that the federal government restricted DDT because of the book.
- There is no mention of government decisions, laws, or policy changes.
So this is, at best, background information. It does not directly support the claim about government action.
Test choice D and identify it as the strongest support
D) Transcripts of 1970 congressional hearings show several legislators citing Silent Spring as their primary reason for supporting a nationwide ban on DDT.
- Who? US legislators in Congress (part of the federal government).
- When? 1970, which is within a decade of the 1962 publication of Silent Spring.
- What? They are supporting a nationwide ban on DDT, a form of federal restriction.
- Why? They cite Silent Spring as their primary reason.
This directly ties Silent Spring to federal action restricting DDT in the right time frame. Therefore, the correct answer is:
Transcripts of 1970 congressional hearings show several legislators citing Silent Spring as their primary reason for supporting a nationwide ban on DDT.