Deck 6: The Problems of Water

Question 1

Human beings consist primarily of:

A) blood
B) squishy organs
C) water
D) sugar

Answer 1

water

Question 2

According to the Pacific Institute, conflicts over water are:

A) remaining stable
B) rising
C) decreasing
D) unheard of

Answer 2

rising

Question 3

According to the text, the confirmed death toll of Hurricane Katrina stands at:

A) 982
B) 1,125
C) 1,500
D) 1,836

Answer 3

1,836

Question 4

Since 1980, the average number of hurricanes has remained about the same, and:

A) the number of severe classes has increased significantly
B) the number of severe classes has decreased slightly
C) the number of severe classes has also stayed the same
D) the number of moderate classes has increased

Question 5

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans criminal justice system:

A) stayed strong
B) virtually collapsed
C) was only slightly affected
D) improved

Question 6

After receiving approximately 150,000 homeless evacuees after Katrina, Houston, Texas, experienced:

A) a surge in crime
B) a decrease in crime
C) no change in crime
D) none of the above

Question 7

The second costliest hurricane in U.S. history was:

A) Katrina
B) Ivan
C) Sandy
D) George

Question 8

Hurricane Sandy affected which part of the country:

A) the southeast
B) the northeast
C) the southwest
D) the south

Question 9

During the five days following Hurricane Sandy, the NYPD noted:

A) a 50% increase in homicides
B) a 25% increase in homicides
C) an 86% decrease in homicides
D) no change in homicides at all

Question 10

In the aftermath of powerful storms, which country provides an excellent example of the scarcities that drive the Homer-Dixon model?

A) Haiti
B) the United States
C) Russia
D) Canada

Question 11

Philips (2012) noted that sea-level rise along the northern half of the eastern seaboard is:

A) remaining stable
B) increasing three to four times faster than the rest of the world
C) increasing slower than the rest of the world
D) decreasing slightly

Question 12

Which section of the United States is known as a "hot spot" for sea level rise?

A) the western seaboard
B) the gulf of Mexico
C) the northwest
D) the eastern seaboard

Question 13

According to the text, Las Vegas is currently experiencing a drought that has lasted:

A) 3 years
B) 14 years
C) 8 months
D) who knows...whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas

Question 14

In 2011, as a result of drought, Texas experienced agricultural losses upwards of:

A) $ 68.3 million
B) $ 324 million
C) $7.62 billion
D) $899 trillion

Question 15

In 2011, China experienced its worst drought in:

A) 50 years
B) a century
C) a millennia
D) forever

Question 16

The 2011 drought in China affected:

A) a few thousand people and some farm animals
B) nobody
C) everybody
D) 4.4 million people and 3.2 million farm animals

Question 17

The U.S. government estimates that, as a result of the 2011 East Africa drought, in the space of 90 days:

A) a few hundred children died
B) a few thousand children died
C) 29,000 children under the age of five died
D) no children died

Question 18

According to the World Bank, how many countries are currently suffering water shortages?

A) 80
B) 32
C) 58
D) 2

Question 19

The Ogallala aquifer provides drinking water to:

A) 40% of the region
B) half the region
C) 80% of the region
D) all of the region

Question 20

How much of the global population depends on groundwater supplies for their water?

A) one-half
B) one-third
C) one-quarter
D) three-quarters

Question 21

Discuss three of the global water security concerns proposed by the National Intelligence Assessment.

Question 22

Provide suggestions as to how the criminal justice system in New Orleans could have been better prepared for a large-scale disaster such as Katrina.

Question 23

Imagine a not-so-distant future where sea level rise renders the eastern seaboard of the U.S. unsuitable for habitation. Where do you think the millions of displaced easterners should go? Should state governments be preparing for a potential influx of migrants, and what do you imagine could result from a failure to prepare?

Question 24

Based on the differing accounts provided in the chapter, do you believe there was a substantial increase in crime resulting from the relocation of disaster victims after Hurricane Katrina? Explain.

Question 25

In light of what you have read regarding drought, water shortages, and depleted aquifers, what do you propose can be done to prevent future widespread water shortages? How does population factor in? Do you think countries should put limits on human reproduction in order to curtail the increase in population?