Deck 6: Threats to the Environment

Question 1

What percentage of fossil fuel is consumed by the United States?

A) 25 percent
B) 30 percent
C) 5 percent
D) 60 percent

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A sociologist would argue that most environmental problems are __________.

A) socially created
B) naturally created
C) beyond our control
D) created by the divine

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The manufacturing industry contributes to air pollution, and passenger cars __________.

A) have been seen as the only remedy to the issue
B) have been designed not to emit carbon dioxide
C) are permitted by law to emit more pollutants than the manufacturing industry
D) also emit dangerous gases into the environment

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The greenhouse effect occurs when__________.

A) plant decomposition takes place
B) the humidity from rainwater rises to the atmosphere
C) gases accumulate in the atmosphere and act as a glass roof
D) chlorofluorocarbons are absorbed by plants

Question 5

The biosphere of the planet includes the surface layer as well as the surrounding __________.

A) atmosphere
B) seasphere
C) cosmosphere
D) lunasphere

Question 6

The world's population has increased dramatically and has reached approximately __________ people.

A) 9 billion
B) 7 billion
C) 6 million
D) 7 million

Question 7

The plants, animals, and microorganisms that supply people with the essentials of life make up Earth's __________.

A) biospheres
B) ecosystems
C) greenhouses
D) planned obsolescence

Question 8

Which of the following could be seen as a major cause for recent environmental justice movements?

A) The creation of hybrid automobiles
B) Corporations illegally dumping hazardous waste
C) The reduction of planned obsolescence
D) The creation of non-aerosol spray cans

Question 9

The United States burns just about __________ percent of the world's coal.

A) 10
B) 50
C) 75
D) 25

Question 10

Environmental researchers argue that climate change on this planet could result in __________.

A) an increase in temperature and in weather extremes
B) the increased freezing of the polar ice caps.
C) a decrease in sea level
D) more favorable weather conditions

Question 11

Politicians do not agree on whether or not humans cause global warming, but environmentalists argue that human wastefulness and excessive gas in the environment lead to __________.

A) acid reflux disease
B) the greenhouse photochemical
C) the greenhouse effect
D) a pain in the gas

Question 12

Which of the following is a major contributor to the deforestation of tropical rainforests?

A) Damage by wildlife
B) Lumber and mining companies
C) Local tribes using timber for construction
D) Global warming

Question 13

Which of the following contributes to the greenhouse effect?

A) Plant absorption of carbon monoxide
B) Burning of leaves from intense sun in the rainforests
C) Chlorofluorocarbon accumulation in the atmosphere
D) Low levels of plant decomposition

Question 14

In relation to environmental problems, Americans have __________.

A) disproportionately consumed the world's resources
B) been the least wasteful of the world's resources
C) decreased their dependency on oil since 1965
D) only used American sources of environmental resources

Question 15

If a pharmaceutical company decides to move all of its labs from suburban communities because of complaints, and relocates them to poorer communities where they assume people will not complain or have the political backing to force them to move, this would be an example of __________.

A) environmental racism
B) environmental destruction
C) ecological Armageddon
D) environmental inequality

Question 16

Which of the following is a major source of water pollution?

A) Wild animals
B) Naturally grown fish
C) Industries
D) Vehicles

Question 17

In less developed countries, contaminated water results in __________.

A) higher tide levels
B) cholera and other diseases
C) torrential rains
D) climate change

Question 18

One of the main social forces that profoundly disturbs the Earth's ecosystem is __________.

A) the increase in human population
B) the astronomical anomalies in the last decade
C) the growing of food in greenhouses
D) the decrease in economic growth

Question 19

Most __________ advocates attempt to improve community environments by eliminating toxic hazards.

A) environmental racism
B) environmental classism
C) environmental justice
D) cornucopia naturists

Question 20

Sociologists argue that although the expansion of the economy and globalization create jobs and products, it also __________.

A) benefits our ecosystem
B) has an environmental downside
C) creates more farmable land across the planet
D) takes away from the ability to create profit

Question 21

Strategies to maximize profits by designing products with a limited, useful life or making superficial changes to existing products so that the previous product seems out of date are examples of __________.

A) profit sharing
B) planned obsolescence
C) environmental racism
D) structural-functionalism

Question 22

If an owner of a company that produces a lot of waste wants to be able to keep polluting, what, according to the text, is that owner's best strategy?

A) Lobby and otherwise use the political system to ensure regulations are lax
B) Realize the pollution is too damaging, take responsibility for causing the pollution, and pay for the cleanup.
C) Do nothing.
D) Only pollute at night when fewer people will notice

Question 23

Which of the following is a dominant cultural value contributing to environmental problems?

A) The belief in equality for all
B) The belief in community owned land
C) The cornucopia view of nature
D) The belief that farming land must be rotated

Question 24

According to the text, what do Americans believe about technology in relation to environmental problems?

A) Technological answers to environmental problems can and will be developed.
B) Technology works ultimately to attain harmony with nature.
C) Technology is the source of environmental problems.
D) Technology cannot solve environmental problems.

Question 25

Which of the following cultural values contributes to environmental problems?

A) Freedom of speech
B) Faith in religion
C) Socialism
D) Faith in Technology

Question 26

Most Americans regard human beings as having mastery over nature and believe that our responsibility is to __________.

A) be good environmental stewards
B) conquer it to our benefit
C) co-exist with the environment as it is
D) let nature control us

Question 27

The cornucopia view of nature in America can lead to __________.

A) an interest in protecting the fragile ecosystems
B) a desire to be at one with the universe
C) a temptation to view nature as plentiful and ours to use as we wish
D) a renewed effort to conserve resources

Question 28

Creating demands (needs) for products where no actual need exists contributes directly to __________.

A) environmental sensitivity
B) overconsumption
C) technological advancement
D) tighter government regulations

Question 29

The major underlying sources of our present environmental problems are __________.

A) government legislators
B) corporate executives
C) beyond our control
D) the culture and structure of our society

Question 30

The policy of planned obsolescence by many U.S. companies accomplishes the goal of consumption, but it __________.

A) is not valued by American culture
B) does not allow for the mass production of goods
C) offers little in the development of materialism
D) overlooks the problems of disposal

Question 31

The location of U.S. cities has impacted the environment of __________.

A) rivers and lakes
B) rainforests
C) polar glaciers
D) plant decomposition

Question 32

A realistic/rational plan to conserve energy could include which of the following?

A) Strict enforcement of a relatively low speed limit
B) Strict enforcement of a higher speed limit
C) Using candles instead of outdoor lighting
D) Increasing the use of American oil

Question 33

The capitalist economy contributes to the present environmental problems in the following way:

A) it encourages overconsumption.
B) it is not dependent on frugality.
C) it does not demand the maximization of profit.
D) it uses a system of decreased materialism.

Question 34

The U.S. system of capitalism depends on __________.

A) the socioeconomic equality of citizens
B) the maximization of profit
C) the decrease of overconsumption
D) improvement of the environment

Question 35

What environmental issue can be the result of increased production and increased consumption?

A) Decreasing levels of air pollution
B) Increasing amounts of resource depletion
C) Eradication of environmental classism
D) An abundance of new tree growth

Question 36

The sharing of knowledge by members of a society exists in a(n) __________.

A) environmental justice league
B) biosphere
C) culture
D) ecosystem

Question 37

According to the text, a company that practices planned obsolescence would most likely __________.

A) decrease the manufacturing of products to have less of a negative impact on the environment
B) give their products superficial changes and market them as new
C) re-release the same products without making changes
D) stop creating new products and work with their current stock

Question 38

Which of the following can be considered a structural source of environmental problems?

A) the socialist economy
B) the greenhouse effect
C) the system of stratification
D) the destruction of rainforests

Question 39

A person who holds the belief that nature is a vast and bountiful storehouse to be used by human beings would be considered to have a(n) __________.

A) environmental racist view
B) environmental classist view
C) environmental justice view
D) cornucopia view of nature

Question 40

The dominant cultural ideologies in U.S. society have tended to __________.

A) legitimize decreasing profit
B) rationalize our wastefulness as part of our way of life
C) accept socialism as part of life
D) decrease our dependence on foreign oil

Question 41

Solutions for environmental problems here in the United States, as suggested in the textbook, call for changes in both our personal lifestyles and our economic system.

Question 42

Although there is often political division between the Democrats and Republicans, they all agree on the reasons for global climate change.

Question 43

According to the text, under the private enterprise system based on profits, corporations seek the profitable alternative rather than __________.

A) one based on producing more oil and gas
B) one that burns more coal
C) one that builds more nuclear plants
D) one based on conservation

Question 44

Solutions for environmental problems in the United States call for __________.

A) changes in our personal mentality and lifestyle
B) decreased government intervention in environmental issues
C) increased production of goods at a decreased cost
D) exporting more goods to other countries

Question 45

An interest in protecting the fragile ecosystems is reflective of Americans' cornucopia view of nature.

Question 46

According to the text, individualism refers to the fact that most Americans place great stress on personal achievement and believe that hard work will bring individual success.

Question 47

Which of the following will likely be necessary if we are to deal with our environmental problems on a global level?

A) Increasing the expansion of quickly outdated and disposable technology
B) Finding new sources of energy
C) Putting the needs of individuals over those of society
D) Having every country plant 10 new trees per year

Question 48

Major obstacles to the United States adopting a comprehensive plan to curb pollution include __________.

A) pursuit of the common good
B) the already heavy regulation of the mining industry
C) the belief that states and communities should decide what happens in their own environment
D) individual voluntary commitments to solve the problem

Question 49

Environmental problems are not caused solely by the increasing number of people in the world today.

Question 50

A sociologist researching structural reasons for environmental problems would find that the poor __________.

A) use far less resources than the affluent.
B) are more likely to live in less polluted areas
C) are more likely to have low-risk jobs
D) have to pay disproportionately less than the affluent for policies that help clean up the environment.

Question 51

The greenhouse effect, while leading to increased temperatures in the temperate zones of the world, creates high-pressure conditions in polar regions that prevent the polar ice caps from melting.

Question 52

Environmental classism refers to the fact that the poor are more likely to __________.

A) be subject to polluted environments where they live
B) receive increased wages for their work
C) live in cleaner neighborhoods with less pollution
D) have access to jobs with low hazards

Question 53

According to the text, one effective alternative for a plan to solve our environmental crisis is the government __________.

A) increasing its relationship with lobbyists
B) tolerating pollution from only a select group of companies
C) seeing pollution as a "necessary evil" to maintaining capitalism
D) enacting laws carrying severe criminal and civil penalties for harming the environment

Question 54

The dominant cultural ideologies in U.S. society have tended to legitimize and rationalize our wastefulness.

Question 55

Curtailing the waste of energy will involve __________.

A) individual alterations of lifestyles
B) maintaining the same economic system
C) a focus on increasing consumption
D) leaving democracy for socialism

Question 56

Sociologists argue that most environmental problems are socially created.

Question 57

Automobile emissions are one of the leading causes of air pollution in the United States.

Question 58

Even though the United States is the largest producer of solid waste among industrialized countries, it uses its advanced technology to recycle most of its used materials.

Question 59

Which of the following is associated with environmental classism?

A) The poor often have dangerous jobs and are residentially segregated.
B) The rich have the most unwanted jobs.
C) All corporations are champions of environmental justice.
D) The poor live in the most desirable neighborhoods.

Question 60

Environmental problems are not confined within political borders so it is important to understand that __________.

A) innovation in energy production will not make a difference
B) if one country wastes finite resources, it impacts us all
C) altering the structural conditions that promote waste is useless
D) there is nothing the United States can do to help solve environmental issues

Question 61

Describe the process and implications of the greenhouse effect.
Ideal

Question 62

The United States __________ consumed the world's resources.

Question 63

Describe the biosphere and why it is important for us to protect it.

Question 64

Two major environmental consequences of deforestation are __________ and the vanishing of species.

Question 65

The policy of __________ is visible when companies manufacture goods and then make changes to market new items for continued consumption.

Question 66

Discuss the relationship between environmental racism and U.S. capitalism.

Question 67

A movement known as __________ works to improve environments for communities.

Question 68

In the Cambodian rainforest, __________ has occurred due to the demand for high-quality oil extracted from the roots of trees.

Question 69

Discuss the relationship between American materialism and the belief in individualism.
Ideal

Question 70

Describe the impact of solid waste pollution in the United States.
Ideal

Question 71

Describe the two major consequences of deforestation and how the climate is impacted.
Ideal

Question 72

The __________ occurs when harmful gases accumulate in the atmosphere and act like a glass roof.

Question 73

Over __________ pounds of toxic chemicals are released by industry into the nation's environment each year.

Question 74

Analyze the relationship between capitalism and planned obsolescence.

Question 75

How is the U.S. cornucopia view of nature related to environmental problems?
Ideal

Question 76

How is deforestation related to climate change?

Question 77

Explain how the lumber and mining companies impact deforestation of the world's rainforests.

Question 78

The U.S. economic system of __________ depends on the maximization of profits and the minimization of costs.

Question 79

On record, the hottest year on earth took place during the year __________.

Question 80

Some U.S. corporations are now leading the way in promoting __________ efforts thanks to "green" ideology becoming mainstream in the media.