Question 1

Danger to society does not only result from technological accidents such as gas leaks and reactor explosions.According to Ulrich Beck, which of the following also poses major dangers?
A)environmental threats
B)biofood hazards
C)the second genesis
D)technopolies

Accepted Answer

Ulrich Beck, a prominent sociologist, is well-known for his work on the "Risk Society," where he discusses how modern society is increasingly preoccupied with managing and preventing risks, including environmental threats. These concerns are central to his analysis of the dangers facing contemporary societies, beyond just technological accidents.

Question 2

According to the textbook, which of the following groups is most likely to experience disproportionately more environmental risk?
A)poor people
B)the elderly
C)people with disabilities
D)urban dwellers

Accepted Answer

Poor people are more likely to live in environmentally hazardous and toxic areas due to factors such as limited housing options and lower socio-economic status. They may also have limited access to resources to protect themselves from environmental risks.

Question 3

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, what have humans been doing that has contributed the most to global warming?
A)building larger urban environments
B)eroding more soil
C)consuming more fossil fuel
D)expanding arable land

Accepted Answer

Consuming more fossil fuels has produced greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which is the primary cause of global warming. Urbanization, soil erosion, and expanding arable land have all contributed to environmental changes, but not as significantly as burning fossil fuels.

Question 4

Scientists have been experimenting with uniting the genes of different animals together to create whole new animals.What do we call the potential threat posed by such scientific inquiry?
A)environmental peril
B)technological imperative
C)genetic pollution
D)catastrophic DNA

Accepted Answer

The potential threat posed by uniting genes of different animals together is genetic pollution. This term refers to the unintended spread of genetically modified organisms and altered genetic material into the natural environment, which could have negative impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity.

Question 5

According to the textbook, which of the following do some claim may pose the biggest technological threat so far to human well-being and survival?
A)biotechnology
B)environmental technology
C)military technology
D)recombinant technology

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, biotechnology is claimed by some to pose the biggest technological threat to human well-being and survival as it has the potential to create new diseases, enhance existing ones, and create new forms of life that could pose unknown risks. Environmental technology, military technology, and recombinant technology are not mentioned as posing the biggest threat.

Question 6

For at least how long must waste from nuclear reactors be kept away from human beings in order to not contaminate them?
A)1000 years
B)5000 years
C)10 000 years
D)15 000 years

Accepted Answer

According to current estimates, nuclear waste must be kept away from human beings for at least 10,000 years in order to not contaminate them. Option A is too short a time period, and options B and D exceed current estimates.

Question 7

Due to environmental degradation, many species are becoming extinct.According to the textbook, what is the rate of extinction today?
A)10 times the natural rate
B)100 times the natural rate
C)1000 times the natural rate
D)10 000 times the natural rate

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, the current rate of extinction is 100 times the natural rate. This is due to human activities such as habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change.

Question 8

Monique is a theoretical mathematician at a large university.Which of the following is most likely to motivate her research work at the university?
A)personal interest in the development of the field
B)personal profit
C)increased fame
D)political connections

Accepted Answer

As a theoretical mathematician, it is most likely that Monique is motivated by personal interest in the development of the field rather than personal profit, increased fame, or political connections. Theoretical mathematics is a highly specialized field and individuals who pursue it typically do so out of a deep passion for the subject matter.

Question 9

What is the main underlying point made by the 2008 documentary film Food, Inc.?
A)Food production has changed in North America.
B)Food production has increased in ways that will mainly benefit people in non-industrialized countries.
C)Food production has increased in ways that will mainly benefit people in industrialized countries.
D)Food production should be examined using the sociological imagination.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the main underlying point made...

Question 10

According to the textbook, when was the steam engine first invented?
A)between 10 and 70 CE
B)between 800 and 900 CE
C)between 1100 and 1200 CE
D)between 1700 and 1800 CE

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that the steam engine was first invented between 1700 and 1800 CE.

Question 11

Monsanto, the American-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation, has scoured the earth in a quest to patent plants that have been used for centuries by Indigenous people as medication and turn them into commercially viable medicines.What do Indigenous people call this practice?
A)DNA theft
B)intellectual property protection
C)biopiracy
D)gene fraud

Accepted Answer

The practice described in the passage is commonly known as biopiracy. It involves the exploitation of traditional knowledge, genetic resources, and biodiversity without providing any compensation or benefits to the Indigenous populations or countries from which they were obtained. Biopiracy has been criticized as a form of neocolonialism that reinforces power imbalances between developed and developing countries and undermines the rights and livelihoods of Indigenous peoples.

Question 12

What type of waste is produced by nuclear power facilities?
A)radioactive waste
B)chemical waste
C)solid waste
D)liquid waste

Accepted Answer

Nuclear power facilities produce radioactive waste, which consists of spent fuel rods, contaminated liquids and solids, and other materials that have been exposed to nuclear radiation. This waste is highly dangerous and requires specialized storage and disposal methods to prevent environmental and human health risks.

Question 13

What does the gradual increase in the average surface temperature of the earth reflect? A)population growth B)increased CO₂ levels C)the decline of biodiversity D)increased urbanization

Accepted Answer

The gradual increase in the average surface temperature of the earth reflects the increased levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which trap heat and lead to global warming. This increase is largely due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Population growth, decline of biodiversity, and increased urbanization may indirectly contribute to the increase in greenhouse gases, but they are not the primary cause.

Question 14

Monsanto, the American-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation, has scoured the earth in a quest to patent plants that have been used for centuries by Indigenous people as medication and turn them into commercially viable medicines.What does Monsanto call this practice?
A)DNA theft
B)intellectual property protection
C)biopiracy
D)gene fraud

Accepted Answer

The answer of Monsanto, the American-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation,...

Question 15

Which of the following counties in Nova Scotia was the most polluted in the 1990s?
A)Halifax
B)Cape Breton
C)Kings
D)Pictou

Accepted Answer

Cape Breton was the most polluted in the 1990s, primarily due to the heavy industrial activities, including coal mining and steel manufacturing, which had significant environmental impacts.

Question 16

According to the textbook's discussion regarding who most opposes the information about the dangers of global warming, which of the following is a reasonable conclusion?
A)Those who stand to profit from the causes of global warming want the information discredited.
B)Those who stand to profit the most from the causes of global warming want the information widely known.
C)Ordinary citizens stand to benefit the most from global warming.
D)Ordinary citizens stand to benefit the least from global warming.

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that those who stand to profit from the causes of global warming, such as fossil fuel companies, are the ones who most oppose the information about the dangers of global warming. Therefore, option A is a reasonable conclusion. Option B is incorrect as it goes against the given information. Option C and D are also incorrect as there is no evidence to support either claim.

Question 17

Uranium ore was manually carried out of Port Radium in the Northwest Territories by Dene men who were paid minimally and were not warned the dangers of handling the materials.What does this example illustrate?
A)toxic prejudice
B)eco-racial discrimination
C)environmental racism
D)ecological insensitivity

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates environmental racism, which refers to the disproportionate and negative impact of environmental hazards on certain social groups based on their race or ethnicity. The Dene men, who were indigenous to the area, were not adequately informed about the dangers of handling uranium ore and were not fairly compensated for their work. This reflects a pattern of exploitation and disregard for the health and safety of marginalized communities that is characteristic of environmental racism.

Question 18

Which of the following nations is most likely to be responsible for global environmental damage?
A)Canada
B)India
C)Indonesia
D)Mexico

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following nations is most...

Question 19

Clearly, as the textbook demonstrates, market forces have assisted in dealing with environmental problems.However, markets alone cannot do it all.Why is this so?
A)because of inadequate financial resources
B)because of regulations regarding commodity costs
C)because the pace of change is slow
D)because of multinational mobilization

Accepted Answer

Markets rely on consumer demand and supply, which can take time to shift towards environmentally friendly options. Additionally, some environmental problems require immediate action and cannot wait for market forces to catch up. Regulations and policies may be necessary to incentivize businesses and individuals to take action quickly. Inadequate financial resources and multinational mobilization may also play a role, but are not the primary reasons why markets alone cannot solve all environmental problems.

Question 20

In the United States, heavy industrial polluters are often located near African-American communities.What does this example illustrate?
A)toxic prejudice
B)eco-racial discrimination
C)ecological insensitivity
D)environmental racism

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates environmental racism, which refers to the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards, such as pollution and toxic waste sites, on communities of color. This phenomenon is rooted in historic and ongoing systemic racism and discrimination, which has led to the placement of industrial facilities in or near low-income and minority areas. The result is that these communities are burdened with higher rates of environmental pollution and related health risks.

Quiz 22: Technology and the Global Environment

Danger to society does not only result from technological accidents such as gas leaks and reactor explosions.According to Ulrich Beck, which of the following also poses major dangers?

According to the textbook, which of the following groups is most likely to experience disproportionately more environmental risk?

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, what have humans been doing that has contributed the most to global warming?

Scientists have been experimenting with uniting the genes of different animals together to create whole new animals.What do we call the potential threat posed by such scientific inquiry?

According to the textbook, which of the following do some claim may pose the biggest technological threat so far to human well-being and survival?

For at least how long must waste from nuclear reactors be kept away from human beings in order to not contaminate them?

Due to environmental degradation, many species are becoming extinct.According to the textbook, what is the rate of extinction today?

Monique is a theoretical mathematician at a large university.Which of the following is most likely to motivate her research work at the university?

What is the main underlying point made by the 2008 documentary film Food, Inc.?

According to the textbook, when was the steam engine first invented?

Monsanto, the American-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation, has scoured the earth in a quest to patent plants that have been used for centuries by Indigenous people as medication and turn them into commercially viable medicines.What do Indigenous people call this practice?

What type of waste is produced by nuclear power facilities?

What does the gradual increase in the average surface temperature of the earth reflect?

Monsanto, the American-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation, has scoured the earth in a quest to patent plants that have been used for centuries by Indigenous people as medication and turn them into commercially viable medicines.What does Monsanto call this practice?

Which of the following counties in Nova Scotia was the most polluted in the 1990s?

According to the textbook's discussion regarding who most opposes the information about the dangers of global warming, which of the following is a reasonable conclusion?

Uranium ore was manually carried out of Port Radium in the Northwest Territories by Dene men who were paid minimally and were not warned the dangers of handling the materials.What does this example illustrate?

Which of the following nations is most likely to be responsible for global environmental damage?

Clearly, as the textbook demonstrates, market forces have assisted in dealing with environmental problems.However, markets alone cannot do it all.Why is this so?

In the United States, heavy industrial polluters are often located near African-American communities.What does this example illustrate?