Question

directions: for the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete senten

1. what is the theme of this story?

a. nature is resilient and humans should not worry about damaging the environment.
b. the benefits of human progress outweigh its negative consequences
c. humans value preserving nature over technological progress.
d. technological progress and urbanization come at a cost.

1. what does the word \alien\ mean as used in paragraph 9?

a. unfamiliar
b. unearthly
c. external
d. distant

Explanation:

Question 1

To determine the theme, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Encouraging environmental damage is not a typical positive theme, so A is incorrect.
• Option B: The option suggests benefits of progress outweigh negatives, but the theme likely focuses on costs of progress, so B is wrong.
• Option C: There's no indication humans value nature over progress; the focus is more on the cost of progress, so C is incorrect.
• Option D: Technological progress and urbanization often have negative impacts (costs), which is a common theme in such stories.

To find the meaning of "alien" in paragraph 9 (assuming context of unfamiliarity in a setting):

• Option A: "Unfamiliar" fits when something is foreign or not known in a context (e.g., an alien concept in a place).
• Option B: "Unearthly" implies supernatural, which is less likely unless context is sci - fi, and the question doesn't suggest that.
• Option C: "External" is too broad; "alien" here is about familiarity, not just external.
• Option D: "Distant" refers to physical distance, not the meaning of "alien" in most contexts here.

Answer:

D. Technological progress and urbanization come at a cost.

Question 2