Question 1

Any equitable solution to the problem of who should pay the bill for environmental cleanup should take into account responsibility as well as benefit.

Accepted Answer

The statement emphasizes the importance of considering not just the party responsible for the environmental damage, but also those who have benefited from the polluting activity. An equitable solution would factor in both responsibility and benefit when determining who should pay for the cleanup.

Question 2

Thanks to the EPA,the federal government long ago eliminated the problem of potentially harmful pesticides and other chemical residues in food.

Accepted Answer

While the EPA and other government agencies regulate and monitor the use of pesticides and other chemicals, it is not possible to completely eliminate the presence of potentially harmful residues in food. However, the regulations in place aim to keep these residues at safe levels for human consumption.

Question 3

What's a "free rider"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What's a "free rider"?...

Question 4

What is the meaning of "ecology"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the meaning of "ecology"?...

Question 5

William T.Blackstone rejects the idea that each person has a human right to a livable environment on the grounds that it is technically infeasible.

Accepted Answer

William T. Blackstone indeed argues for the existence of a human right to a livable environment, suggesting that such a right is fundamental and necessary for the enjoyment of other human rights, rather than rejecting it on the grounds of technical infeasibility.

Question 6

An ordinary example of an ecosystem is a pond.

Accepted Answer

A pond is an example of an ecosystem because it includes living organisms such as plants, fish, and insects, as well as non-living factors such as water, sunlight, and nutrients that interact and affect each other.

Question 7

The international fishing industry as it exists today gives us good reason to reject the moral of Garrett Hardin's "Parable of the Commons."

Accepted Answer

The international fishing industry as it exists today often suffers from overfishing and depletion of resources, which supports the moral of Garrett Hardin's "Parable of the Commons." In this parable, the idea is that when a resource is shared by a group, each individual has an incentive to use as much of the resource as they can, leading to depletion of the common resource. The same can be seen in the case of international fisheries, where each country has an incentive to catch as much fish as possible, leading to overfishing and depletion of the fish stock.

Question 8

According to Cambridge University biologist Andrew Balmford,the loss of nature's services is usually outweighed by the benefits of development.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. According to Andrew Balmford's research, the benefits of development may sometimes outweigh the loss of nature's services, but in many cases, the opposite is true. Balmford advocates for balancing development with conservation efforts to ensure sustainable use of natural resources.

Question 9

Are there any differences between environment ethics for humans and animals? Defend your answers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Are there any differences between environment ethics...

Question 10

Is it a moral right or privilege for human beings to live in a clean environment? Defend your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is it a moral right or privilege...

Question 11

Briefly describe the two popular answers to the question of who should pay the costs of environmental protections and restorations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly describe the two popular answers to...

Question 12

Is it appropriate to have a "valley of death" as described in Case 7.2? If you worked for one of the factories how would you justify the fumes? If you take an environmental view,how would confront the problem?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is it appropriate to have a "valley...

Question 13

Three approaches have gained the most attention when it comes to achieving our environmental goals: the use of regulations,incentives,and pricing mechanisms.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The use of regulations, incentives, and pricing mechanisms are commonly discussed as strategies for achieving environmental goals.

Question 14

Would you propose an incentive based program to challenge companies to reduce their environmental liability? Give an example of how this can be done and whether it could ever be effective.Defend your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Would you propose an incentive based program...

Question 15

Does that fact that McDonald's gave in to public opinion mean that all businesses should do the same? Is there ever a time that a business can tell environmentalists that they will not abide by the regulations or requests? Defend your answers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Does that fact that McDonald's gave in...

Question 16

What's an "externality"? Give an environmental example of an externality.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What's an "externality"? Give an environmental example...

Question 17

According to Joel Feinberg,we can predict various interests of future generations.

Accepted Answer

Joel Feinberg argued that it is possible to predict certain basic interests of future generations, such as the need for a clean environment and resources, based on current human needs and trends.

Question 18

The rising affluence of people in the United States has meant a corresponding decrease in pollution and its attendant environmental problems in the United States.

Accepted Answer

While increased affluence has led to some improvements in environmental conditions, it has also led to increased consumption and pollution. Overall, the impact on the environment is not clear-cut and varies depending on various factors such as the industry, technology, and regulations in place.

Question 19

Explain a cost-benefit analysis,and how is it relevant to environmental issues?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain a cost-benefit analysis,and how is it...

Question 20

One of the attitudes prevalent in business that has led to increased environmental problems is the tendency to view the natural world as a free and unlimited good.

Accepted Answer

This attitude has led to overuse and exploitation of natural resources, pollution, and other environmental problems. The belief that natural resources are unlimited has encouraged businesses to engage in activities that are damaging to the environment.

Quiz 7: The Environment