In a previous lesson, you read an excerpt from Silent Spring. You also read the article 'Silent Spring’ Triggered an Environmental Movement, published in 2016. This article argued that Silent Spring inspired an entire generation to pay closer attention to the impact of technology on the natural world, but that it also created a backlash that ultimately made environmentalism a partisan, or highly political, issue.
How should you think about Carson's influence on where we are today? Rather than simply accepting the claims made by the New York Times article, a responsible citizen would consult additional sources, including some of the sources mentioned in the article, and then decide—based on the evidence—how influential Carson was. The CBS show that described the national response to Silent Spring is one such source. Its producers conducted interviews with Carson herself as well as representatives of the pesticide industry, the medical community, and the U.S. government.
Because the report was aired on television—not in print or on the radio, it is an early example of in-depth reporting delivered in a multimedia format. As the news anchor and the guests speak, images of various kinds are displayed onscreen, prompting viewers to make connections between the words they hear and the scenes they see. Watch the beginning of the show again, and this time pay close attention to the images that were selected to accompany the script. Watch the video until 2:50. Then, answer the multiple-choice questions below to ensure you understand the claims made in the video.
Now that you've watched the beginning of the video again answer the following questions to ensure you understand the purpose and effectiveness of Rachel Carson's claims and her opposition.
Why did CBS include interviews from Carson, the pesticide industry, the medical community, and the U.S. government?
- to fill screentime
- to be unbiased
- to make more money
- to confuse viewers
CBS tried to present all angles and facts of the argument.
CBS tried to present all angles and facts of the argument.
CBS tried to present all angles and facts of the argument.
CBS tried to present all angles and facts of the argument.
What impression does Rachel Carson make when she first appears on screen?
- ambitious and greedy
- cruel and malicious
- proper and sincere
- shy and frightened
Carson is wearing conservative clothing and writes as she sits on a porch swing.
Carson is wearing conservative clothing and writes as she sits on a porch swing.
Carson is wearing conservative clothing and writes as she sits on a porch swing.
Carson is wearing conservative clothing and writes as she sits on a porch swing.
What does the video insinuate about the effects of pesticides when it shows the images of dying birds and fish?
- Pesticides kill everything in their path, regardless of species.
- Pesticides have been designed to kill only birds and fish.
- Pesticides only kill the insects they have been designed to target.
- Pesticides can decide who and what to kill whenever they like.
The images suggest that pesticides can’t differentiate between living things.
The images suggest that pesticides can’t differentiate between living things.
The images suggest that pesticides can’t differentiate between living things.
The images suggest that pesticides can’t differentiate between living things.
How is the scientist’s image different than Rachel Carson’s portrayal?
- His glasses distract viewers from his arguments.
- His white jacket and scientific surroundings make him look like an expert.
- His white jacket and scientific surroundings make him look like a novice.
- His glasses make him less official than Carson.
The scientist takes specific actions to appear knowledgeable.
The scientist takes specific actions to appear knowledgeable.
The scientist takes specific actions to appear knowledgeable.
The scientist takes specific actions to appear knowledgeable.
What does the scientist claim is the true threat to human existence?
- pesticides
- people who write controversial books
- fungicides
- insects that ravage the food supply
The video shows footage of swarms of locusts eating crops.
The video shows footage of swarms of locusts eating crops.
The video shows footage of swarms of locusts eating crops.
The video shows footage of swarms of locusts eating crops.
Summary
Questions answered correctly:
Questions answered incorrectly:
In this lesson, you will be asked to analyze information provided in various formats, including multimedia, and to evaluate the information in relation to a set of questions or problems. To get started on this process, click the button below to access a worksheet that you will complete as you work through this lesson. Complete Sections A, B, and C of Part One of the worksheet now, before going on to the next page in the lesson.
