Question 1

What is the difference between risk perception and risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

Risk perception is about how individuals feel about their safety or the dangers they perceive, often influenced by personal experiences, media, and cultural factors. Risk assessment, on the other hand, is a systematic process that involves identifying, analyzing, and evaluating risks using scientific data and statistical methods to understand the actual level of risk.

Question 2

In terms of terrorism, risk perceptions are often accurate as to the actual risk of an attack.

Accepted Answer

People often overestimate the risk of terrorist attacks due to media coverage and the dramatic nature of these events, leading to a perception of risk that is much higher than the statistical likelihood of being involved in such an incident.

Question 3

What can the public's fear of terrorism force the government to do?

Accepted Answer

The public's fear of terrorism can pressure the government to take actions that provide reassurance, even if those actions are more about perception than actually reducing the threat.

Question 4

In a bioterrorism attack, the number of people sick with the same thing make it immediately very obvious that an attack took place.

Accepted Answer

Bioterrorism attacks can initially be difficult to detect because the symptoms of the diseases used (such as anthrax, smallpox, or plague) can be similar to those of more common illnesses, and it may take time before an unusual pattern or number of cases alerts health authorities to the attack.

Question 5

Why are quarantines and evacuations sometimes an ineffective response to WMD terrorism?

Accepted Answer

Quarantines and evacuations can be ineffective if the public does not comply with the orders. The imposition of a quarantine can sometimes generate panic, making the situation worse by causing disorder and potentially spreading the threat further. Compliance and public reaction are critical factors in the effectiveness of these measures.

Question 6

Acquisition refers to

Accepted Answer

Acquisition in the context of terrorism refers to the phase where a terrorist group obtains the agent (biological, chemical, nuclear, etc.) they intend to use. The complexity of acquiring the agent varies based on its nature and accessibility.

Question 7

Weaponization refers to

Accepted Answer

Weaponization is the process of converting raw materials or agents (such as bacteria, chemicals, or fissile materials) into a form that can be used effectively as a weapon, specifically to cause the maximum number of casualties. This involves technical processes to ensure the agent can be delivered and will be potent upon delivery.

Question 8

Many of the agents available for use in a bioterrorism attack (such as anthrax) occur in nature and are very dangerous if one comes into contact with it.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many of the agents available for use...

Question 9

Delivery refers to

Accepted Answer

Delivery refers to the method by which a terrorist or terrorist group ensures that their weapon has the widest possible impact, maximizing casualties.

Question 10

The reason the Aum cult's Sarin gas attack failed was because

Accepted Answer

The delivery system failed, as the gas was released in a confined space and did not spread as intended.

Question 11

Why have no terrorist groups been able to execute a WMD attack with massive casualties?

Accepted Answer

Having the WMD perfect storm of all three components is difficult.

Question 12

In addition, beyond acquisition, weaponization, and delivery, there is a fourth key factor; that of the group's

Accepted Answer

The fourth key factor is the group's motivation, which drives the desire and rationale behind acquiring, weaponizing, and delivering weapons, including weapons of mass destruction.

Question 13

With the advent of groups pursuing a dominantly religious agenda, where they are ordered by divine authority to create as many casualties as possible as a goal in and of itself

Accepted Answer

The statement implies that when groups are motivated by a belief that they are divinely ordered to cause mass casualties, they may be more inclined to use weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) to achieve their goals, as it represents a more efficient means to create the high number of casualties they aim for.

Question 14

Today's terrorist groups may simply see conventional weapons as incapable of meeting their goals and worth the effort to brave the increased obstacles involved with WMD.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Today's terrorist groups may simply see conventional...

Question 15

The level of lethality/toxicity refers to

Accepted Answer

The level of lethality or toxicity of an agent specifically refers to the likelihood of death for those who come into contact with it.

Question 16

Which of the following describes the Ebola virus, considering there is no cure for it?

Accepted Answer

Ebola virus is known for its high lethality, causing severe disease with a high mortality rate.

Question 17

Speed of action refers to

Accepted Answer

Speed of action refers to how quickly victims will come in contact with and react to the agent, indicating the rapidity with which the agent takes effect after exposure.

Question 18

Specificity refers to

Accepted Answer

Specificity, in the context of agents (such as pathogens or chemicals), refers to the degree to which an agent affects a particular species or group of species and its ability to jump between species. This is why option D is correct, as it directly addresses the concept of specificity in terms of species or group specificity and cross-species transmission potential.

Question 19

The H1N1 influenza virus began life as a bird virus and only later mutated into a form that could jump to humans. Which of the following describes the characteristic that the virus has?

Accepted Answer

The H1N1 influenza virus, initially a bird virus that mutated to infect humans, demonstrates low specificity. This means it has the ability to infect hosts across different species, indicating a broad or less specific host range.

Question 20

Controllability refers to

Accepted Answer

Controllability in the context of a hazardous agent, especially in scenarios involving terrorism, refers to the ability of the perpetrators to manage the spread and impact of the agent to avoid self-exposure and ensure the agent affects the intended target area or population. This includes controlling the area over which the agent is dispersed to prevent unintended spread that could harm the perpetrators themselves or others not targeted.

Quiz 12: The Special Case of Weapons of Mass Destruction Wmd Terrorism