Unit6Nature in words Developing ideasSilent spring

Silent Spring was therefore regarded as a milestone in the launch of the green movement in the Western world. It also earned Carson a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom and put her face on the 17-cent US stamp.
Comment on the book
She made a crucial but potentially difficult to understand subject interesting and accessible to millions of people.
This is not so much because of the quality of her arguments, strong though they are, but because of the beauty and elegance of her writing.
Another case study was the fire-ant programme that killed cows , but not fire ants.
Silent Spring contains a lot of scientific research and case studies. The book gives also dozens of other examples of eradication programmes that did nothing to reduce the problems they were originally designed to solve.
used in some for malaria control.
1874年，德国Zeidler合成了DDT。1936～ 1939年，瑞士化学家保罗·赫尔曼·穆勒（Paul Hermann Müller，1899～1965）发现了DDT的 杀虫效能和使用价值，1943年传播国外，1944 正式发表。
Influences of the book
Carson`s message was very alarming, causing a great increase in environmental awareness.
Its impact was immediate and farreaching : the use of DDT was banned and the Environmental Protection Agency was established in the US.
They said that Carson did not understand the science behind her arguments because she was a marine biologist rather than a chemist.
Some also said that her work was more emotional than scientific.
Oppo research was strong and was supported by most scientists who reviewed her work, the book quickly became a target for critics in the pesticide industry.
There was a strange stillness. The birds, for example-where had they gone? Many people spoke of them, puzzled and disturbed. The feeding stations in the backyards were deserted. The few birds seen anywhere were moribund; they trembled violently and could not fly. It was a spring without voices. On the morning that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens, and scores of other bird voices there was now no sound; only silence lay over the fields and woods and marsh.
These were attempts to damage Carson`s reputation and stop her work from influencing public policy, but she remained determined to stand by her research. Carson appeared in public and on television to defend her claims-and today, more than 50 years after it was published, the voices of Silent Spring is still ringing loud and clear.
later used as pesticide. • It stays in the environment. • It is highly poisonous to living organism,
including humans. • Now banned in many countries, it is still
DDT是第一个重要的有机氯杀虫剂，在第 二次世界大战后一段时间内，大量应用于农业 和卫生保健，起过很大的作用，瑞士化学家保 罗·赫尔曼·穆勒Müller因此获得1948年的诺贝尔 医学奖。
Pesticides were yesterday`s gospel, but today`s disaster.
Silent Spring
robin 知更鸟
catbird 猫鹊
dove 鸽子
jay松鸭
wren鹪鹩
purpose
By imaging a world without birds, she aimed to alert the scientific community and the general public to the damaging effects of human activity on natural ecosystems-in particular, to the harmful use of pesticides, such as DDT.
Developing ideas
Silent Spring
Look at the infographic below and answer the questions.
Facts about the pesticide: • DDT was first produced in 1874 and was
publication, theme and main idea; 2) the reason why this book is published; 3) features of the writing; 4) comments on this book; 5) influence of this book.
农药是昨天的福音，今天的灾难
1 How does DDT reach the human body in the food chain?
When DDT is sprayed onto plants in order to kill insects, it is absorbed by the plants and subsequently consumed by animals; humans in turn eat those animals. DDT also leaks through the soil and into rivers and lakes, where it contaminates fish consumed by humans.
Content of the book
Carson urged people to make themselves aware of the facts and do something about the situation.
The book details the gypsy moth eradication programme, which killed birds, in addition to gypsy moths.
Silent Spring was so successful because
几十年来，人类为此付出了沉重的代价： 大量鸟类灭绝，生殖细胞受损，出现各种慢性 疾病……
Now read the passage and check your prediction.
It is a book review on Silent Spring, so the following parts may be mentioned in this passage: 1) basic information about the book, including the author, year of
For unless we do listen to Rachel Carson`s warning, one day we may wake up to the strange and quiet horror of another silent spring.
Think & Share
1 Why was Silent Spring so successful?
Her book not only changed the world; half a century later it remains a book that deserves to be reread today, so that we can once again feel ourselves warm to the fire of its passionate message.
2 What harm does DDT cause?
DDT is highly poisonous to living organism, including humans.
For dozens of years, human beings have paid a heavy price for it :a large number of birds have died out ; Germ cells have been damaged ; Various chronic diseases have appeared…
Rachel Carson believed that the chemical industry was knowingly causing harm to plants, animals and even humans, and wished to see pesticides used in a more responsible, limited and carefully monitored way.