APES
Summer Assignment
Ms Potter (Wegner)
Part 1: Read “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson and answer the questions that go with each section.
Answers should be in complete sentences, clear, concise and original. Plagiarism from the web or
other students will result in a zero and administrative referral. This will be due your first day of class
in August.
Chapters 1-2
1. Explain 3 effects of pollution in the fictitious city in Chapter 1. Be specific.
2. Draw a diagram/flow chart to show how strontium 90 cycles through the environment. (ch2)
3. What is the word Carson uses instead of “insecticide”?
Why would this word be considered a stronger more meaningful word? (ch2)
4. How many basic chemicals have been created for the use of killing pests when this book was written? (ch2)
5. What reason does Carson give for the “chemical war” never being won? (ch2)
Chapters 3-7
6. Which is one organic substance that is still used today that can kill?
What is it used in? (ch3)
7. What was DDT used for when it was first concocted?
Where does the body store DDT? (ch3)
8. Why can the water cycle never really purify itself? (ch4)
9. How can insecticides unbalance the biotic factors in the soil?
Give at least one example. (ch5)
10. What are some of the implications of widespread herbicide use on ecosystems that Carson discusses in
Ch6?
11. Explain one example of needless destruction of the environment to rid the Midwest of the Japanese
Beetle. (ch7)
12. Why do you think the government was intent on destroying the Japanese Beetle from the Midwest? (ch7)
Chapters 8-10
13. Draw a diagram showing how DDT moves through the ecosystem. (ch8)
14. What part of body system was the DDT affecting the most in birds?
The Robin and the Eagle specifically. (ch8)
15. What is the other insecticide discussed in Chapters 8 & 9 that have a devastating affect on birds, fish and
other insects?
16. Has the wide use of insecticides to “eradicate” unwanted species worked?
How has it affected the total environment? (ch8,9,10)
Chapters 11-13
17. Why might the kitchen be the most attractive place for pesticides?
Why is the most dangerous? (ch11)
18. Explain three ways that insecticides affect the human body. (ch12)
19. How is ATP affected by insecticides and pesticides? (ch13)
Short Essay Question (1/2 – 1 page typed):
• Carson’s book was published in 1962. How has the environmental movement changed since then? What has
kept the same? Be specific
Part 2: Construct and complete a chart similar to the one below for each of the 26 pieces of
legislation or treaties This will be due the first day your return as well.
Name
Function of Legislation or Treaty
Clean Air
Act
Established primary and secondary air quality standards. Required states
to develop implementation plans. Sets
limits and goals to reduce mobile source air pollution and ambient air
quality standards.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Year First
Established
Clean Air Act
Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Acts Occupational Safety and Health Act
Clean Water Acts Hardrock Mining and Reclamation
Ocean Dumping Ban Act
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation Liability Act
Kyoto Protocol Oil Pollution Act
Consumer Product Safety Act Law of the Sea Convention Oil Spill Prevention and Liability Act
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Marine Mammal Protection Act Pollution Prevention Act
Emergency Planning &Community Right-To-Know Act
Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Endangered Species Act Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act
Safe Drinking Water Act
Energy Policy Act Montreal Protocol Soil and Water Conservation Act
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
National Energy Act Solid Waste Disposal Act
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
National Environmental Policy Act
APES
Curriculum
Unit
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Federal Water Pollution Control Act
National Park Act Toxic Substances Control Act
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
National Wildlife Refuge System Act
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
Food Quality Protection Act Nuclear Waste Policy Act Wilderness Act
Part 3: Write a 3 page double spaced paper (times New Roman 12 font) Discuss the impact of
Silent Spring on our current legislation and treaties. This will be due one week after you return to
class. We will have some group discussion first. However, you should have made some notes and
thought about this as you completed parts one and 2.
Have a great summer and get out in nature as much as you can.
Ms Potter