Read the excerpt from Silent Spring.

On the farms the hens brooded, but {no chicks} hatched. The farmers complained that they were unable to raise any pigs—the litters were small and the young survived only a few days. The apple trees were coming into bloom but {no bees) droned among the blossoms, so there was {no pollination} and there would be {no fruit}.

What kind of tone do the bracketed words create?

A.) bewildered
B.) threatening
C.) courageous
D.) insignificant