Question

hugh bennett took his time giving his speech to the senate subcommittee. he kept looking out the window, waiting for what he knew was coming, hoping that nature would provide the punch he needed. he hated to wish for it, but he needed it to convince the senators of the need for a soil conservation service. finally he saw it coming. he ended his speech as the sky began to fill with grit and dust blown hundreds of miles by the wind. as senators gathered around a window, the sky turned a coppery color, and then darkened. the day became as dark as night. the wind hurled pebbles and dirt against the window. then hugh bennett pointed out the window and exclaimed, “there gentlemen, there! that’s what i’m talking about. there goes the state of oklahoma!” two weeks later the national soil conservation service was born, and hugh bennett was chosen to lead it. 10. what was “the punch” that hugh bennett hated to wish for, but needed? 11. why would he hate to wish for it? 12. underline anything in the text or photograph that supports the inference that it wasn’t a tornado. 13. when hugh bennett said “there goes the state of oklahoma!” what did he mean?

Explanation:

1. The "punch" was a dust - storm. He needed it to convince senators of the need for a Soil Conservation Service.
2. He hated to wish for it because dust - storms are destructive natural events that cause harm to the environment and people.
3. "the sky began to fill with grit and dust blown hundreds of miles by the wind", "The sky turned a coppery color, and then darkened. The day became as dark as night. The wind hurled pebbles and dirt against the window." These descriptions suggest a large - scale dust event rather than a tornado.
4. He meant that the dust - storm was a representation of the severe soil erosion problem in Oklahoma, highlighting the urgent need for soil conservation.

Answer:

1. A dust - storm to convince senators of the need for a Soil Conservation Service.
2. Because dust - storms are destructive.
3. "the sky began to fill with grit and dust blown hundreds of miles by the wind", "The sky turned a coppery color, and then darkened. The day became as dark as night. The wind hurled pebbles and dirt against the window."
4. He meant the dust - storm represented the severe soil erosion problem in Oklahoma, showing the need for soil conservation.