Question

select the text from the paragraph that best helps you understand that proponents means people who argue for the value of something. there may be more than one correct choice. the book’s central claim—that widespread pesticide use was the cause of significant harm to human health and to the environment—was highly controversial. conservationists, taking the book’s message to heart, succeeded in banning the use of ddt in the united states in 1972. others, however, pushed back against carsons claims. proponents of ddt usage pointed to the pesticide as a cost - effective means of controlling mosquito populations in parts of the world with high malaria rates. still, silent spring ushered in an era of greater awareness, leading people to start thinking more carefully about the environmental impact of chemical products.

Explanation:

To understand "proponents" means people who argue for the value of something, we look for text where a group supports DDT. The sentence "Proponents of DDT usage pointed to the pesticide as a cost - effective means of controlling mosquito populations in parts of the world with high malaria rates" shows that these people are arguing for DDT by highlighting its benefits (cost - effective for mosquito control in malaria - prone areas). Also, the contrast with conservationists (who banned DDT) and "others... pushed back against Carson's claims" (Carson was against pesticide use) helps, but the direct statement about proponents pointing to DDT's value is the best.

Answer:

Proponents of DDT usage pointed to the pesticide as a cost - effective means of controlling mosquito populations in parts of the world with high malaria rates.