Question

click to read the passage from beyond the wall: essays from the outside, by edward abbey. then answer the question. which detail best supports the author’s argument that glen canyon would be better off without the dam?

a. lake powell is really a reservoir.

b. the dam was built to generate electricity

c. plant life cannot grow along the shoreline.

d. the glen canyon dam formed lake powell.

Explanation:

To support the argument that Glen Canyon would be better without the dam, we need a detail showing a negative impact of the dam. Option A just defines Lake Powell, not a negative impact. Option B states the dam's purpose, not a drawback. Option C shows that the dam (which created Lake Powell) has a negative effect on plant life along the shoreline, indicating the dam is harmful to the ecosystem, so it supports the argument. Option D just states a fact about the dam forming the lake, not a negative impact.

Answer:

C. Plant life cannot grow along the shoreline.