[1]
_____________________________. For decades, the vast wetlands were viewed as nothing more than a useless, disease-ridden swamp that hindered progress. Under the banner of development, developers and politicians sought to drain the land to build farms and cities. This widespread perception persisted until Marjory Stoneman Douglas published her seminal book, *The Everglades: River of Grass*, in 1947. Her writing completely redefined the region not as a stagnant marsh, but as a dynamic, free-flowing river crucial to Florida's ecological survival.
[2]
Douglas’s advocacy went far beyond the page. She founded the Friends of the Everglades, mobilizing citizens to fight against destructive projects such as a proposed jetport in the middle of the wetlands. Her efforts helped secure the preservation of the unique habitat, which is home to rare species like the Florida panther and the West Indian manatee. Today, her work remains a foundational pillar of modern wetland conservation.
The writer wants to begin the passage with a sentence that introduces the main topic and sets up the discussion of how public perception of the Everglades shifted. Which choice best accomplishes this goal?
- AIn the early twentieth century, developers wanted to drain the Everglades, they viewed the wetlands as useless swamps.
- BWhile many people now appreciate the Everglades, early developers' efforts to drain the region was motivated by profit.
- Before the mid-twentieth century, the Florida Everglades were widely misunderstood and actively targeted for destruction.Cevap
- DThe Florida Everglades is a subtropical wetland that spans over two million acres across the southern portion of the state.