Question

nine miles south of boston, just a little back from the eastern shores of old ocean, lies the village of braintree. it is on the post - road, being one of that string of settlements, built a few miles apart for better protection, that lined the sea, boston being crowded and plymouth full to overflowing, the home - seekers spread out north and south. in sixteen hundred twenty, when the first cabin was built in braintree, land that was not in sight of the coast had actually been settled. back a mile, all was a howling wilderness, with trails made by wild beasts. these paths led through tangles of fallen trees and thickets of rocks, beneath dark, overhanging pines where winters snows lay not till midsummer, and the suns rays were strange and alien to the eyes. he who sought to traverse these ways had to crouch and crawl or force a passage with axe and knife. through them no horse or ox or beast of burden had carried its load. the authors attitude toward the deforestation of braintree is one of a caution. b disdain. c joy. d shock.

Explanation:

The passage describes the natural - state of Braintree in the past, and deforestation would disrupt this natural environment. There is no indication of joy, disdain, or shock. Caution is a more reasonable attitude as deforestation can have negative environmental impacts.

Answer:

A. caution