Why do you think the author waits until the final
paragraph to explain that the town she describes
does not actually exist? Support your answer
with textual evidence.

Book - Silent Spring

Author - Rachel Carson

Textual evidence -

"This town does not actually exist, but it might easily have a thousand counterparts in America or elsewhere in the world. I know of no community that has experienced all the misfortunes I describe. Yet every one of these disasters has actually happened somewhere, and many real communities have already suffered a substantial number of them. A grim specter has crept upon us almost unnoticed, and this imagined tragedy may easily become a stark reality we all shall know."

Explanation:

Rachel Carson explains about a town with nature's beauty, where plants, animals, birds and human all lived in harmony. Suddenly due to some evil effects, everything changed. Humans, children died to strange sickness. Birds disappeared, hen did not lay eggs, apple trees bear no fruits, rivers and streams dried, fishes died. A white powder showed on the roofs sprayed by people which caused destruction.

Rachel Carson explains further that the town she describes  does not actually exist to make the readers understand the effects of the chemicals and insecticides caused mass destruction due to extensive use causing the nature to perish slowly. She insisted on taking necessary steps to notice the changes before it becomes a dark reality.