Question

moths of the limberlost by gene stratton - porter (excerpt) chapter i (1) to me the limberlost is a word with which to conjure; a spot wherein to revel. the swamp lies in north - eastern indiana, nearly one hundred miles south of the michigan line and ten west of the ohio. in its day it covered a large area. when i arrived, there were miles of unbroken forest, lakes provided with boats for navigation, streams of running water, the roads around the edges corduroy, made by felling and sinking large trees in the muck. then the winter swamp had all the lacy exquisite beauty of such locations when snow and frost draped, while from may until october it was practically tropical jungle. from it i have sent to scientists flowers and vines not then classified and illustrated in our botanies. (2) it was a piece of forethought to work increasingly. there is a wide gulf between a naturalist and a nature lover. a naturalist devotes his life to delving into stiff scientific problems concerning everything in nature from her greatest to her most minute forms. a nature lover works at any occupation and finds recreation in being out of doors and appreciating the common things of life as they appeal to his senses. how does the relationship between the words greatest and minute provide a clue to the meaning of minute? a. minute and greatest are synonyms, so minute means grand or large. b. minute is an example of greatest, so minute describes a good thing. c. greatest is a definition of minute, so minute means the most grand. d. greatest and minute are antonyms, so minute means small or insignificant.

Explanation:

The words "greatest" and "minute" are used in a context where they seem to contrast aspects of nature. "Greatest" implies large - scale or significant, while "minute" as its antonym likely means small or insignificant.

Answer:

D. Greatest and minute are antonyms, so minute means small or insignificant