Question

read the passage and then answer the question. published in 1962, rachel carsons silent spring began a national debate that changed americans attitudes toward the environment. carson, originally a marine biologist, had begun noticing the adverse effects of pesticides on various ecosystems. in her book, she documents the effects of ddt, a pesticide that was then popular for agricultural use. in the environment, carson noted the collapse of food chains and the decline of bird, fish, and other animal populations; in humans, effects of ddt include a higher risk of cancer and other illnesses. the books 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 books message to heart, succeeded in banning the use of ddt in the united states in 1972. others, however, pushed back against carsons claim. 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. what is the meaning of proponents as used in the passage? people who oppose something people who argue for the value of something people who have strong feelings about something people who dont understand something

Explanation:

In the passage, it is stated that "Proponents of DDT usage pointed to the pesticide as a cost - effective means of controlling mosquito populations". This shows that they were arguing in favor of the value of DDT.

Answer:

people who argue for the value of something