Answer:
Humans living in or near the town.
Explanation:
Rachel Carson's short fairytale "A Fable For Tomorrow" is one of her collection of stories in her book "Silent Spring". This fable pictures a town full of life that suddenly changes to a deserted town after numerous maladies and illnesses overtook it.
Though the story started off with a quaint, nice, and peaceful town, it slowly progresses into a deserted, imaginary town. This was because of the <em>"a white granular powder [that] had fallen like snow upon the roofs and the lawns, the fields, and streams."</em> Though Carson admits in the end that this is no real story of any town, in particular, it still can be a possibility in many parts of America. And the source of this <em>"white powder"</em> is, as Carson wants to point out, the frequent use of pesticides and chemicals by humans.
Thus, the correct answer is the last option.
