Question 1

According to psychologists, people tend to be risk-sensitive. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

When people are risk-sensitive they prefer a certain or uncertain outcome much more than the other.

Question 2

Referring to the graph below, which of the following equations is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  U(
B)  = U(
A)  
B)  U(
B)   U(
A)  
D)  Both a and c are possible 
E)  None of the above 
A)  U(
B)  = U(
A)  
B)  U(
B)   U(
A)  
D)  Both a and c are possible 
E)  None of the above C

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is too much uncertainty in science to help measure the probability of outcomes of decisions made regarding environmental issues. 
B)  Making decisions regarding environmental issues based on science has a high level of risk due to the uncertainty of measurements in science. 
C)  Science can help measure the probability of any particular outcome and help humans make better decisions based on the risks involved. 
D)  Policy-makers are in the best position to be the most helpful in making environmental decisions since they will look at risk based on human emotions and science. 
E)  Environmental problems have consistently predictable outcomes that allow for policy-makers, scientists, and the general public to make sound decisions for positive outcomes. 
A)  There is too much uncertainty in science to help measure the probability of outcomes of decisions made regarding environmental issues. 
B)  Making decisions regarding environmental issues based on science has a high level of risk due to the uncertainty of measurements in science. 
C)  Science can help measure the probability of any particular outcome and help humans make better decisions based on the risks involved. 
D)  Policy-makers are in the best position to be the most helpful in making environmental decisions since they will look at risk based on human emotions and science. 
E)  Environmental problems have consistently predictable outcomes that allow for policy-makers, scientists, and the general public to make sound decisions for positive outcomes. C

Question 4

An investor is faced with the option of putting money into a savings account with a 2% interest rate that is guaranteed or a stock account that has a higher expected return rate of 6% but is not guaranteed. The investor chooses the stock account because they enjoy the excitement of the possibility of a higher payoff. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  risk-aversion and discounting. 
B)  neutrality only. 
C)  risk-sensitivity. 
D)  discounting only. 
E)  risk-sensitivity and being risk-prone. 
A)  risk-aversion and discounting. 
B)  neutrality only. 
C)  risk-sensitivity. 
D)  discounting only. 
E)  risk-sensitivity and being risk-prone.

Question 5

Which academic discipline has shown that people are subject to biases in their decision-making?

Accepted Answer

A)  Environmental science 
B)  Physics 
C)  Sociology 
D)  Economics 
E)  Psychology 
A)  Environmental science 
B)  Physics 
C)  Sociology 
D)  Economics 
E)  Psychology

Question 6

Compare and contrast the following scenario in relation to risk-sensitivity, being risk-prone or risk-averse: Two people are searching for jobs. Person A has been out of work for 8 months and is on unemployment, but it's about to expire. She is offered a job that pays slightly higher than her unemployment. Person B has a current job that pays a good wage but she is looking for a new job because she is ready for a career change. She also applied for the same job as Person A and is also offered a position. The job pays less than her current salary. Based on what you have learned in this chapter, what decision will each person make, and why?

Accepted Answer

Humans tend to be risk-sensitive since t

Question 7

The statement "I am not concerned about food shortages occurring because scientists and technology will find solutions to the problem." is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  discounting. 
B)  risk-sensitivity. 
C)  evolutionary response. 
D)  typicality. 
E)  availability effect. 
A)  discounting. 
B)  risk-sensitivity. 
C)  evolutionary response. 
D)  typicality. 
E)  availability effect.

Question 8

Discuss three reasons why people tend to ignore or discount future outcomes of environmental decisions.

Accepted Answer

1) Someone may not live long enough to s

Question 9

You are hired to implement a plan to increase food production. Which plan would you implement when you consider risk?

Accepted Answer

A)  Encourage agricultural farmers to increase production by using more pesticides so they can grow more food without the pests affecting the crops. 
B)  Hire biotechnology scientists to find ways to grow crops in ways that will increase food production even if we are uncertain about the effects of the crops grown in this way. 
C)  Hire sociologists to study populations and then get medical professionals to educate the populations on limiting the number of children they have. 
D)  Gather medical, agricultural, and biotech professionals and environmental scientists to devise a plan to grow more food crops. 
E)  All of the above 
A)  Encourage agricultural farmers to increase production by using more pesticides so they can grow more food without the pests affecting the crops. 
B)  Hire biotechnology scientists to find ways to grow crops in ways that will increase food production even if we are uncertain about the effects of the crops grown in this way. 
C)  Hire sociologists to study populations and then get medical professionals to educate the populations on limiting the number of children they have. 
D)  Gather medical, agricultural, and biotech professionals and environmental scientists to devise a plan to grow more food crops. 
E)  All of the above

Question 10

Which of the following statements about risk-sensitivity is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Humans are usually risk-prone but never risk-averse or risk-sensitive. 
B)  Humans are usually risk-averse but always risk-prone and risk-sensitive. 
C)  Humans are never risk-sensitive but always risk-averse and risk-prone. 
D)  Humans are usually risk-sensitive, but not always consistently risk-prone or risk-averse. 
E)  Humans are never risk-averse, but always consistently risk-prone and risk-sensitive. 
A)  Humans are usually risk-prone but never risk-averse or risk-sensitive. 
B)  Humans are usually risk-averse but always risk-prone and risk-sensitive. 
C)  Humans are never risk-sensitive but always risk-averse and risk-prone. 
D)  Humans are usually risk-sensitive, but not always consistently risk-prone or risk-averse. 
E)  Humans are never risk-averse, but always consistently risk-prone and risk-sensitive.

Question 11

How can bias affect the decision-making process in relation to environmental issues? Give an example to help explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

Since people are prone to bias, biases c

Question 12

Which term best defines the following statement: "The chance of a disaster is low and the timing is unpredictable."

Accepted Answer

A)  Risk 
B)  Actual risk 
C)  Stochastic 
D)  Subjective decisions 
E)  Typicality 
A)  Risk 
B)  Actual risk 
C)  Stochastic 
D)  Subjective decisions 
E)  Typicality

Question 13

Defend the following statement: "Using excessive discounting based on adult mortality rates is not feasible in making environmental decisions."

Accepted Answer

Basing environmental decisions on someon

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of the typicality effect?

Accepted Answer

A)  You notice that for the past few years the winters are colder than they used to be and you decide this is evidence of climate change. 
B)  You notice that winters have had about the same temperatures as you normally experience and climate change must be a hoax. 
C)  You learn that your town is deciding to build wind turbines to create a sustainable energy source to promote jobs and slow climate change. 
D)  You feel that the government should not make decisions to end coal production to slow the effects of climate change since it will take a long time and be very expensive. 
E)  You want policy-makers to establish policies based on economics and not on science so the economy is in good condition. 
A)  You notice that for the past few years the winters are colder than they used to be and you decide this is evidence of climate change. 
B)  You notice that winters have had about the same temperatures as you normally experience and climate change must be a hoax. 
C)  You learn that your town is deciding to build wind turbines to create a sustainable energy source to promote jobs and slow climate change. 
D)  You feel that the government should not make decisions to end coal production to slow the effects of climate change since it will take a long time and be very expensive. 
E)  You want policy-makers to establish policies based on economics and not on science so the economy is in good condition.

Question 15

Scientists have studied the impact of clear cutting forests on erosion and waterways. They know that clear cutting will cause erosion and waterways will suffer the impact of sediment loading. Evaluate the situation and choose the statement that best explains how humans may perceive the risks involved.

Accepted Answer

A)  Since the chance of disaster is low humans will not have biases about this situation. 
B)  Although the seriousness of the impact is well known people's judgment may still vary dramatically. 
C)  All people understand this situation and will work together on a solution. 
D)  Both a and c 
E)  None of the above 
A)  Since the chance of disaster is low humans will not have biases about this situation. 
B)  Although the seriousness of the impact is well known people's judgment may still vary dramatically. 
C)  All people understand this situation and will work together on a solution. 
D)  Both a and c 
E)  None of the above

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of discounting?

Accepted Answer

A)  A recent environmental disaster at a nuclear power company causes concern about the safety of nuclear energy. 
B)  The demographics of a town show that 90% of the residents are over the age of 60. The town wants to implement a plan to reduce greenhouse emissions that will incur high financial costs and will take at least 25 years to show results. 
C)  A town has the choice of spending $3,000 with the possibility of earning over $10,000 if they decide to build a large solar farm in the next month. 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above 
A)  A recent environmental disaster at a nuclear power company causes concern about the safety of nuclear energy. 
B)  The demographics of a town show that 90% of the residents are over the age of 60. The town wants to implement a plan to reduce greenhouse emissions that will incur high financial costs and will take at least 25 years to show results. 
C)  A town has the choice of spending $3,000 with the possibility of earning over $10,000 if they decide to build a large solar farm in the next month. 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above

Question 17

When people sit down to discuss an environmental concern, such as air pollution, what are some possible points of disagreement?

Accepted Answer

The decision will largely depend on how

Question 18

When decision-making is influenced by a recent environmental disaster or lack of one, it is called

Accepted Answer

A)  typicality. 
B)  framing. 
C)  excessive discounting. 
D)  stochasticity. 
E)  risk-adversion. 
A)  typicality. 
B)  framing. 
C)  excessive discounting. 
D)  stochasticity. 
E)  risk-adversion.

Question 19

Some environmental scientists have interviewed residents in a community where there are many fuel processing plants. It seems that there is a high cancer rate in the area. Which of the following will provide the scientists with the data they need for 100% certain results that the cancer rates are directly correlated to the fuel processing plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  Surveys of residents affected by cancer and how close they live to the processing plants 
B)  Blood tests of those with cancer who live near the processing plants 
C)  Blood tests of people before they move near the plants and then a few years later after living near the plants 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above 
A)  Surveys of residents affected by cancer and how close they live to the processing plants 
B)  Blood tests of those with cancer who live near the processing plants 
C)  Blood tests of people before they move near the plants and then a few years later after living near the plants 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above

Question 20

When a situation is presented in such a way that some of the options are seen as gains and others are seen as losses but the outcome is the same, it is called

Accepted Answer

A)  discounting. 
B)  risk-adverse. 
C)  risk-prone. 
D)  framing. 
E)  typicality. 
A)  discounting. 
B)  risk-adverse. 
C)  risk-prone. 
D)  framing. 
E)  typicality.

According to psychologists, people tend to be risk-sensitive. What does this mean?

Referring to the graph below, which of the following equations is true?

Which of the following statements is true?

Which academic discipline has shown that people are subject to biases in their decision-making?

The statement "I am not concerned about food shortages occurring because scientists and technology will find solutions to the problem." is an example of

Discuss three reasons why people tend to ignore or discount future outcomes of environmental decisions.

You are hired to implement a plan to increase food production. Which plan would you implement when you consider risk?

Which of the following statements about risk-sensitivity is true?

How can bias affect the decision-making process in relation to environmental issues? Give an example to help explain your answer.

Which term best defines the following statement: "The chance of a disaster is low and the timing is unpredictable."

Defend the following statement: "Using excessive discounting based on adult mortality rates is not feasible in making environmental decisions."

Which of the following is an example of the typicality effect?

Which of the following is an example of discounting?

When people sit down to discuss an environmental concern, such as air pollution, what are some possible points of disagreement?

When decision-making is influenced by a recent environmental disaster or lack of one, it is called

When a situation is presented in such a way that some of the options are seen as gains and others are seen as losses but the outcome is the same, it is called

The Scientific Method

Biodiversity

Evolutionary Responses

Human Population Dynamics

Endangered Species

Interactions Among Species

Natural Resource Use and Planning

Energy Resources

Water Resources

Waste Management

Atmosphere and Climate

Air Pollution

Policy, Ethics, and Decision-Making

Filters

Exam 2: Risk and Uncertainty

According to psychologists, people tend to be risk-sensitive. What does this mean?

Referring to the graph below, which of the following equations is true?

Which of the following statements is true?

Which academic discipline has shown that people are subject to biases in their decision-making?

The statement "I am not concerned about food shortages occurring because scientists and technology will find solutions to the problem." is an example of

Discuss three reasons why people tend to ignore or discount future outcomes of environmental decisions.

You are hired to implement a plan to increase food production. Which plan would you implement when you consider risk?

Which of the following statements about risk-sensitivity is true?

How can bias affect the decision-making process in relation to environmental issues? Give an example to help explain your answer.

Which term best defines the following statement: "The chance of a disaster is low and the timing is unpredictable."

Defend the following statement: "Using excessive discounting based on adult mortality rates is not feasible in making environmental decisions."

Which of the following is an example of the typicality effect?

Which of the following is an example of discounting?

When people sit down to discuss an environmental concern, such as air pollution, what are some possible points of disagreement?

When decision-making is influenced by a recent environmental disaster or lack of one, it is called

When a situation is presented in such a way that some of the options are seen as gains and others are seen as losses but the outcome is the same, it is called

The Scientific Method

Biodiversity

Evolutionary Responses

Human Population Dynamics

Endangered Species

Interactions Among Species

Natural Resource Use and Planning

Energy Resources

Water Resources

Waste Management

Atmosphere and Climate

Air Pollution

Policy, Ethics, and Decision-Making

Filters