Quiz 22: Technology and the Global Environment

Brym and Lie argue that many people (including many sociologists)woke up to the fact that technological advance is not always beneficial when: A)a series of widely publicized technological disasters took place in the 1970s and 1980s B)the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 C)the environmental movement became popular in the 1990s D)global warming became a well-known danger in the 1990s E)the atom bomb of 1945 followed by technological disasters of the 1970s and 1980s

In the mid-1980s,sociologist Charles Perrow coined the term: A)risk society B)normal accident C)technopoly D)technological determinism E)environmentalism

A risk society is a society in which: A)nearly all people engage in risky behavior B)young people tend to engage in risky behavior C)technology distributes danger among all categories of the population D)the risks of technology outweigh the benefits E)the benefits of technology outweigh the risks

Technological determinism is the view that: A)people determine the shape and direction of technological change B)technology determines the shape and direction of history C)technology and people make history D)neither technology nor people make history

The world leader in scientific research,publications,and elite achievements is: A)Japan B)Germany C)Russia D)the United States

Who first argued that technologies are invented in clusters? A)Kropotkin B)Vygotsky C)Kondratiev D)Khatchaturian E)Fuller

Technology transforms society,but it is under human control because: A)nowadays humans always build safeguards into new technologies B)human needs help to shape technological growth C)technology is based on rational rather than emotional understandings of nature D)human interests are always weighed against ecological interests E)none of these choices

Increasingly,technological development has come under the influence of ____. A)great creative geniuses B)multinational corporations C)national governments D)scientists E)multinational corporations and national governments

Which of the following is the main negative consequence of technological development? A)decreasing social inequality B)decreasing living standards C)growing worker autonomy D)widespread environmental degradation E)increasing public ignorance of science

Which of the following groups have to discover and promote environmental issues if they are to be turned into social problems? A)policy-oriented scientists B)the environmental movement C)the mass media D)respected organizations and institutions E)all of these choices

Which groups in American society experience more environmental risks than the average? A)the poor B)the young C)urban dwellers D)rural dwellers E)the elderly

The application of scientific principles to the improvement of human life is called: A)the matrix B)technology C)normal accidents D)social improvements E)the risk society

Brym and Lie call the period when the great majority of people thought technology produces only progress and tangible benefits: A)the era of naïve optimism B)the era of rationality C)the era of peace D)the era of cooperation E)the scientific era

According to Brym and Lie,during "the era of naïve optimism" people regarded scientists: A)as having ulterior motives for their work B)as being under the control of big corporations and big government C)as a sort of priesthood whose objectivity allowed them to stand outside the everyday world and perform near-magical acts D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

The Matrix depicts a world where information technology and the representation of reality have become: A)unimportant B)more real than reality C)an illusion D)extensions of the physical world E)extensions of the mental world

In 2000,____ of Americans agreed or felt neutral that science and technology do more good than harm. A)20% B)30% C)50% D)60% E)70%

Which of the following events changed the way that many people look at technology and technological advancement? A)the outbreak of "Legionnaires Disease" B)leakage of dangerous and toxic chemicals at Love Canal C)the Three Mile Island nuclear accident D)the running aground of the Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound,Alaska E)all of these choices

The idea that the complexities of modern technology ensure that all modern technology will inevitably fail is recognized by the term ____. A)the matrix syndrome B)technological determinism C)normal accident D)risk society E)technopoly

The sociologist who is associated with the term "normal accidents" is: A)Robert Oppenheimer B)Karl Marx C)Ulrich Beck D)Charles Perrow E)Neil Postman

When your computer crashes it is an illustration of: A)the matrix syndrome B)technological limitations C)technological determinism D)a normal accident E)a risk society

The idea that contemporary society distributes risk among all categories of the population is associated with which of the following terms? A)the matrix syndrome B)technological determinism C)normal accidents D)technopoly E)risk society

In a risk society,danger does not result from technological accidents alone.It is also due to increasing: A)political threats B)economic threats C)environmental threats D)criminal threats E)terrorist threats

According to Ulrich Beck,environmental threats are more widespread,chronic,and ambiguous than technological accidents.This makes environmental threats more: A)stressful B)predictable C)manageable D)organizational E)risky

The idea that the United States is the first country in which technology has taken control of culture is known as: A)the matrix syndrome B)technopoly C)technological determinism D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

Who argued that the United States is the first country in which technology has taken control of culture? A)Robert Oppenheimer B)Karl Marx C)Ulrich Beck D)Charles Perrow E)Neil Postman

Neil Postman calls a society in which people use technology instead of morality to solve all problems a ____. A)risk society B)technological nightmare C)risk society D)technopoly E)postmodern society

The belief that technology is the major force shaping human society and history is called: A)technopoly B)risk society C)normal accidents D)technological determinism E)all of these choices

The Russian economist Nikolai Kondratiev noted that technologies are invented in clusters.Moreover,he noted that such flurries of creativity cause major economic growth spurts about ____ years later and have a lasting influence for ____ years. A)1-2; 5-15 B)10-20; 25-35 C)30-40; 35-55 D)40-50; 40-50

The steam engine and the computer did not become major forces in society until: A)they were mass-produced in the United States B)they were invented C)they were perfected D)the Japanese mass-produced them E)they were coupled with an urgent social need

Mass-producing cars,sending a man to the moon,and other technology feats in the 1900s required: A)enormous capital investment B)detailed attention to the way work is organized C)many technical experts D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

Thomas Edison was able to create his inventions due to: A)his personal genius and commitment B)the work of expensive team efforts C)the support of large corporations such as General Electric D)federal government support E)his personal genius and commitment combined with expensive team efforts

By the 1950s,most technological innovations were organized along: A)craft lines B)geographical divisions C)by the interests of likeminded individuals D)an industrial model E)a postindustrial model

The era of big science and big technology was reached by the time: A)the electric light bulb was created B)the automobile came into existence C)the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima D)the diesel engine was invented E)none of these choices

After the 1940s,only the government and giant multinational corporations could sponsor most technological innovation because: A)only they could afford to sustain the research efforts B)only they had the patents to develop sophisticated technology C)only they had the public support to create technology D)only they had the interest in creating new products and technology E)all of these choices

The United States had fewer than 10,000 research scientists before World War I.Today,it has: A)less than 10,000 because of the reliance on computers B)more than a million C)just over 100,000 D)more than 10 million

In 1997,American research and development spending reached over $200 billion dollars,up from over $74 billion in 1960.During that same period the proportion of research and development spending by government: A)rose from 33% of the total to 65% B)stayed approximately the same: 33% C)fell from 66% of the total to 33% D)stayed approximately the same: 65% E)none of these choices

Large multinational corporations now routinely invest enormous sums in research and development to increase their chance of being the first to bring innovations to market.Therefore,the time lag between new discoveries and technological application: A)is shrinking B)is increasing C)is remaining the same D)is unknown E)depends on the technological application

Which ideals govern the direction of most technological research and development? A)human improvement B)planetary improvement C)conflict management D)global sustainability E)none of these choices

What ideals govern the direction of most technological research and development? A)human improvement B)planetary improvement C)military considerations D)profit making concerns E)both military and profit making concerns

According to Brym and Lie,access to large research grants,well-paying jobs,expensive state-of-the-art equipment,and the possibility of winning patents and achieving commercial success: A)make scientific research less complicated now than it was just a decade ago B)have little or no effect of the kind of research that scientists do C)help to define the kind of research that scientists do D)are far less important than individual interests,personal creativity,and the state of a field's intellectual development in defining the kind of research that scientists do

Which of the following is an environmental side effect of technology? A)global warming B)industrial pollution C)the decline of biodiversity D)genetic pollution E)all of these choices

The accumulation of carbon dioxide in the air allows more solar radiation to enter the atmosphere and less heat to escape.This is known as: A)genetic pollution B)industrial pollution C)the decline of biodiversity D)the greenhouse effect E)the decline of biodiversity

A gradual increase in the world's average surface temperature is known as: A)genetic pollution B)industrial pollution C)the decline of biodiversity D)global warming E)all of these choices

Many scientists believe global warming is already producing serious climate change.As temperatures rise: A)more water evaporates B)there is more soil erosion C)there is less cultivable land to grow food on D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

The emission of various impurities into the air,water,and soil due to industrial processes are called: A)genetic pollution B)industrial pollution C)the decline of biodiversity D)global warming E)greenhouse effect

For the 17 days of the Olympics,Atlanta closed its downtown to cars and operated public transit around the clock.As a result: A)the performance of Olympic athletes improved B)the performance of Olympic athletes was impaired C)asthma attacks among children in the Atlanta area plummeted D)global warming increased E)all of these choices

A form of precipitation whose acidity eats away at,and may eventually destroy,forests and the ecosystems of lakes is known as: A)genetic pollution B)industrial waste C)the decline of biodiversity D)acid rain E)ozone destruction

A form of oxygen that blocks ultraviolet radiation from the sun is called: A)genetic pollution B)industrial waste C)the decline of biodiversity D)acid rain E)ozone

The enormous variety of plant and animal species inhabiting the earth is called: A)genetic pollution B)industrial waste C)biodiversity D)acid rain E)ozone destruction

According to research,about ____ species are becoming extinct annually? A)100 B)500 C)750 D)1,000 E)none of these choices

The health risks and ecological dangers that may arise from artificially splicing genes together are called: A)genetic pollution B)industrial waste C)the decline of biodiversity D)acid rain E)ozone destruction

A technique developed by molecular biologists in the last few decades that involves joining bits of DNA from a donor to the DNA of a host is called: A)biodiversity B)recombinant DNA C)reorganized DNA D)research DNA E)malleable DNA

When a nonnative organism enters a new environment it can: A)adapt without a problem B)destroy native organisms C)revert to an older organismic form D)destroy native organisms and revert to an older form E)adapt without a problem and destroy native organisms

One of the serious concerns in using genetically engineered food and organisms is that: A)we cannot predict the exact environmental consequences B)we can predict only the positive environmental consequences C)genetic manipulation will be too popular to keep up with demand D)b and c E)a and c

Because some scientists,industrial interests,and politicians dispute the existence of environmental threats: A)members of the public usually turn to non-biased research reports B)few members of the public hold opinions about environmental problems C)the public began to question whether environmental issues are in fact real social problems D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

Global warming became a social problem when: A)it became big news B)the environmental movement gave new legitimacy and momentum to research on global warming C)respected and influential scientists promoted the issue D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

Why do news reporters often publicize tornado disasters that strike trailer parks? A)because the metal attracts tornados B)because trailers usually suffer more damage than other types of dwellings and therefore make a more sensational story C)because news reporters are drawn to stories of affirmation D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

When disaster strikes,economically and politically disadvantaged people tend to: A)suffer to the same degree as advantaged people B)rarely suffer because they have less to lose than advantaged people C)suffer more the advantaged people because they are more vulnerable D)avoid having their situations reported in the media E)rush to the mass media to air their grievances

According to Brym and Lie,the advantaged often: A)try to protect the disadvantaged in society because they are vulnerable B)put the disadvantaged in harm's way to avoid risk themselves C)advertise the situations of the unfortunate to mobilize support on their behalf D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

Oil refineries,chemical plants,toxic dumps,garbage incinerators,and other environmentally dangerous installations are most likely to be built in: A)rich communities B)middle-lass communities C)poor communities D)suburban communities E)exurban communities

Why are environmentally dangerous installations most likely to be built in poor communities with a high percentage of African Americans and Hispanic Americans? A)disadvantaged people are often too politically weak to oppose such facilities B)the job opportunities afforded by such installations may appear attractive to them C)both of these choices D)none of these choices

The tendency to heap environmental dangers on disadvantaged racial minorities is called: A)environmental dumping B)community pollution C)environmental racism D)ecological prejudice E)racist environmentalism

The 75-mile strip along the lower Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is nicknamed "Cancer Alley" because the region suffers from a disproportionately high rate of cancer.The majority of the people who like in this area are racial minorities.This is an example of: A)environmental dumping B)community pollution C)environmental racism D)ecological prejudice E)racist environmentalism

The underprivileged countries of the world face ____ environmental dangers compared to the privileged countries. A)more B)less C)the same level of D)an unknown level of

On average,people in the less developed countries are ____ concerned about the environment than (as)people in rich countries. A)more B)less C)as D)much less

Which countries are responsible for most of the world's environmental damage? A)poor countries B)rich countries C)semideveloped (semiperipheral)countries D)all countries are equally responsible

The richest fifth of humanity now earns about ____ more than the poorest fifth. A)20 times B)40 times C)60 times D)80 times E)100 times

The United States has less than ____% of the world's population and uses about ____% of the world's resources. A)20%; 50% B)15%; 40% C)10%; 30% D)5%; 25%

Biopiracy is the term sometimes used to refer to: A)the use of recombinant DNA by large multinational corporations that dominate the pharmaceutical,seed,and agrochemical industries B)genetic pollution C)the theft of patents by environmentalists D)the patenting of naturally occurring DNA by large multinational corporations that dominate the pharmaceutical,seed,and agrochemical industries

According to Brym and Lie,the possibility of genetically programming babies to have extraordinary intellectual and physical potential is likely to: A)speed up and improve the slow and imperfect process of natural evolution B)be enjoyed only by the well to do C)introduce an era of increased social inequality and low mobility D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

Which of the following are among the advantages of web-based education? A)portability B)ease of use C)students can learn at their own speed D)students can learn in their own style E)all of these choices

Some analysts believe the market and high technology will solve environmental problems.Which issues suggest that this is NOT the case? A)the operation of imperfect price signals B)the continuing importance of political pressure in prompting action on environmental issues C)the slow pace of change D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

Which of the following are some of the disadvantages of web-based learning? A)it makes it difficult to control the quality of education B)dropout rates are higher for distance education courses C)distance education is likely to spread primarily among low-cost,low-status institutions D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

The price of many commodities does not reflect their actual cost to society.This illustrates: A)the operation of imperfect price signals B)the importance of political pressure in prompting action on environmental issues C)the slow pace of change D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

The ____ cost of a commodity is the total cost to produce the product and to resolve any environmental damage caused by using the product. A)market B)social C)total D)true E)regulated

The anti-nuclear movement is an example of a movement that forced a change in government and corporate policy.Its success illustrates: A)imperfect price signals B)the importance of political pressure in prompting action on environmental issues C)the slow pace of change D)the rapid pace of change E)none of these choices

The ability of the market and high technology to respond effectively to environmental issues is illustrated by: A)the "green revolution" of the 1960s B)the introduction of diesel-electric hybrid cars by General Motors and Ford C)the decline in industrial pollution in the United States between 1990 and 1999 D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

Surveys suggest that most members of the American public: A)are not well aware of environmental issues B)think they can do little about environmental problems C)believe that governments should not pass more laws to protect the environment D)are not willing to pay much higher taxes to protect the environment E)are willing to pay much higher prices to protect the environment

Brym and Lie argue that: A)most people have good strategies for surviving environmental disasters B)most people are not prepared to make big sacrifices for remote and abstract goals C)many serious environmental disasters may have to occur before most people wake up to the need to act on environmental problems D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

According to Charles Darwin,human survival depends on: A)competition B)cooperation C)competition and cooperation D)social evolution E)none of these choices

The Russian naturalist and social thinker Petr Kropotkin emphasized which aspect of Darwin's theory? A)competition B)cooperation C)survival of the fittest D)all of these choices E)none of these choices

The bombing of Hiroshima by the United States on August 6,1945,is believed to have divided the 20^th century into two distinct periods.According to the textbook,the first period may be called: A)the era of mass destruction B)the era of naïve optimism C)the era of technological optimism D)the new dark age of industry E)the new renaissance of technological wonder

J.Robert Oppenheimer,the "father" of the atom bomb: A)supported the development of the nuclear bomb after witnessing the dominance of the United States following Hiroshima. B)directly organized one of the largest technological projects in the former Soviet Union toward developing their nuclear arsenal. C)wanted the United States and the Soviet Union to halt thermonuclear research and development of the hydrogen bomb. D)All of the above. E)None of the above.

In 2000,____ of Americans agreed that science and technology do more good than harm. A)70% B)93% C)about 50% D)30% E)12%

Which is an example of technological determinism? A)the steam engine B)the internal combustion engine C)the computer D)All of the above. E)None of the above.

Which two forms of environmental degradation are scientifically most closely related? A)species extinction and genetic engineering B)genetic pollution and depletion of the ozone layer C)the greenhouse effect and global warming D)radiation and toxic waste E)carbon dioxide and CFCs

Which is NOT a benefit of recombinant DNA? A)It is possible to design what some people regard as more useful animals and plants and superior humans. B)Hereditary propensities to a range of diseases can be detected and eliminated. C)Farmers could grow disease-and frost-resistant crops with higher yields. D)Companies could grow plants that produce cheap biodegradable plastic and microorganisms that consume oil spills and absorb radioactivity. E)All of the above are benefits of recombinant DNA.

Oil refineries,chemical plants,toxic dumps,and garbage incinerators are more likely built: A)in middle-class industrial communities. B)in poor communities. C)near maximum correction facilities. D)near beaches,lakes,and streams. E)None of the above.

The idea of people inventing machines that destroy their creators: A)is a new idea. B)is a unique idea portrayed in The Matrix and The Terminator movies. C)first surfaced in the 1950s. D)All of the above. E)None of the above.

Accidents that occur inevitably due to the very complexity of modern technologies is referred to as: A)spurious accidents. B)normal accidents. C)risk accidents. D)technological accidents. E)environmental accidents.

As in the case of an early computer called "ORDVAC," developed at the University of Illinois,technology typically advances when there is: A)an urgent social need. B)economic crisis. C)economic and political prosperity. D)All of the above. E)None of the above.

Since its invention,which technological commodity penetrated the market most sharply and dramatically? A)VCR B)cell phone C)World Wide Web D)Microwave E)PC

Even in the late 1980s,nearly ____ of the biotechnology scientists who belonged to the prestigious National Academy of Science had industry affiliations? A)75% B)40% C)25% D)10% E)90%

Worldwide,what year did "natural" disasters take its greatest toll in terms of monetary damage in billions of dollars? A)1978 B)1998 C)2004 D)1992 E)2003

The precipitation whose acidity destroys forests and the ecosystems of lakes is referred to as: A)biodiversity. B)ozone depletion. C)cid rain D)environmental racism. E)the greenhouse effect.

In terms of genetic pollution,the potential of ecological catastrophe has: A)multiplied. B)declined. C)remained relatively constant over that last 50 years. D)All of the above. E)None of the above.

Petrochemical plants between New Orleans and Baton Rouge form what local residents call: A)"Exxonville." B)"the Oily Way." C)"Cancer Alley." D)"The Black Gold Coast." E)"Poison Point."

Environmental racism tends to endanger: A)racial minorities exclusively. B)factory workers in particular. C)racial minority factory workers specifically. D)the disadvantaged,especially disadvantaged racial minorities. E)women across the social class hierarchy.

The first long-term nuclear waste repository in the United States,located ____,is scheduled to open in 2010,but delays are expected due to numerous regulatory and legal battles. A)deep inside Nevada's Yucca Mountain B)in the Alaskan wilderness C)in offshore containment rigs in the Gulf of Mexico D)on remote federal land in Tennessee E)in a series of deep,interconnected tunnels in North Dakota

According to the textbook,what is the final and perhaps most powerful source of resistance to the cooperative alternative to cleaning up the environment? A)Political and economic enemies of the United States. B)powerful U.S.interest groups in the oil and automobile industries. C)physical scientists. D)social scientists. E)the masses.

If policy-oriented scientists,the environmental movement,the mass media,and respected organizations discover and promote environmental issues,this is enough for an environmental issue to be turned into a social problem.

By a wide margin,the United States is the world leader in scientific research,publications,and elite achievements.

"Normal accidents" refer to the idea that technology will not fail if human subjectivity can be removed from its implementation and operation.

Brym and Lie contend that market and technological solutions are insufficient by themselves to overcome the dangers of environmental degradation caused by technology.

To turn scientific principles into technological innovations there only needs to be attention to detail,commitment,and genius.

There is a strong relationship between the topics chosen for scientific research and the degree to which certain topics are funded by big corporations and national governments.

Data from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies show that the world's annual average surface air temperature is decreasing.

Most pollutants released into the environment are especially concentrated in the West and East coasts of the United States.

Because each species of animal and plant has unique properties,scientists lose those unique properties when the species becomes extinct.This is significant because about a quarter of all prescription drugs include compounds first found in wild organisms.

The seriousness of an environmental threat alone shapes our understanding and response to it.

The advantaged in a society often consciously put the disadvantaged in harm's way to avoid risk themselves.

Currently poor countries do the most environmental damage because of their attempts to modernize.

The people in the Northern Hemisphere cause a disproportionately large share of the world's environmental problems,enjoy the benefits of technology,and live with fewer environmental risks than people in the Southern Hemisphere.

The possibility of having children genetically altered would free all children,regardless of class or social standing,from the possibility of inherited diseases and physical abnormalities.It would also put all children of the future on an equal footing.

Because of the need to bioengineer and use biotechnology to make good food for everyone,large multinational companies share their patents and information.

What are the major forms of environmental degradation?

Who is most exposed to the risks of environmental degradation?

What is acid rain?

What is genetic pollution?

What is biodiversity?

What is the greenhouse effect?

Define normal accidents.

What is technological determinism?

What is technopoly?

What role can sociology play in helping people deal with environmental and other important social problems?

What has led some scientists and others to see technology as a "monster run amok?" How convincing is their view?

The Matrix poses a classic sociological question about technology: Is technology always a means of improving human life or is it sometimes antagonistic to human values? Based on your readings,answer this question.

Is the United States a technopoly? Why or why not?

The Russian economist Nikolai Kondratiev noticed that technologies are invented in clusters.Based on that observation he argued that flurries of creativity cause major economic growth spurts beginning 10-20 years after a cluster of major inventions and have a lasting influence for 15-35 years.Does Kondratiev's argument suggest that culture is defined and shaped by technology?

How did "High Tech" become "Big Tech?" What does this say about the creation and diffusion of technology?

Who is responsible for the creation of most technological innovations? Is this a beneficial arrangement for most of humanity?

Explain the significance of genetic pollution.What can be done to solve this problem?

Explain how the social construction of environmental problems shapes the way we perceive them.

What causes environmental racism? What can be done to solve this problem?

Construct your own question drawing on relevant course materials for your answer.Points will be awarded for both the question and the answer.