Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

D

Question 2

What was the Russian economist Nikolai Kondratiev a firm believer in?

Accepted Answer

Nikolai Kondratiev was a firm believer in technological determinism, which suggests that technological advancements and innovations drive the overall economy forward in cycles, known as Kondratiev waves.

Question 3

While somewhat upset about the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska,Miriam realizes that this event is sometimes just the cost of progress.Based on this information,how does Miriam most likely feel about the less positive outcomes that accompany technological advances?

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

According to the film Food Inc.(2008),which of the following has been problematic for people's health and safety recently in the production of food?

Accepted Answer

According to the film Food Inc. (2008), the manufacture of food in large mechanized settings has led to problematic issues related to people's health and safety, such as the spread of foodborne illnesses and the use of harmful chemicals in food production. Politcal pressure on food producers, erasure of small-scale farmers, and heightened costs of producing organic food are also discussed in the film, but they are not directly connected to health and safety issues.

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?

Accepted Answer

Biotechnology has the potential to alter the genetic makeup of living organisms and can be used for both positive and negative purposes, such as creating genetically modified organisms or biological weapons. Some experts argue that the misuse or unintended consequences of biotechnology may pose the biggest technological threat to human well-being and survival.

Question 6

According to the textbook,when did many people become alerted to the fact that technological advances may not always be beneficial?

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, many people became alerted to the fact that technological advances may not always be beneficial when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. This event demonstrated the destructive power of technology and sparked a global conversation about ethical considerations in the development of new technologies.

Question 7

David is excited because he has suddenly realized the potential of science to create a better life for people all over the world.What is David excited about?

Accepted Answer

David's excitement is related to the potential of science, which is a branch of technology, to improve people's lives. A, B, and D are not directly related to the context presented.

Question 8

Allie considers herself a technological determinist.Which of the following best describes her views of technology?

Accepted Answer

Allie's view as a technological determinist is that technology is the driving force behind social relations and history. Therefore, the best choice is B, which aligns with her perspective. The other choices either limit the impact of technology (A and D) or suggest a more balanced relationship between technology and people (C).

Question 9

Which scientist is regarded as the creator of the atomic bomb?

Accepted Answer

Robert Oppenheimer is widely regarded as the creator of the atomic bomb. He was the director of the Manhattan Project, the US government's top-secret program to develop the atomic bomb during World War II.

Question 10

Which of the following terms expresses the idea that technology is bound to fail due to its sheer complexity?

Accepted Answer

The term "normal accidents" expresses the idea that technology is bound to fail due to its sheer complexity. This term was coined by sociologist Charles Perrow, who argued that in highly complex systems, accidents are inevitable and cannot be prevented, as there are too many interconnected factors and variables at play.

Question 11

Shannon believes that all modern technological advances are harming the entire planet and she is starting a new Facebook group to organize resistance to them.What does Shannon feel that humans today live in?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Shannon believes that all modern technological advances...

Question 12

Which of the following events created uncertainly about the beneficial effects of technological advances for many people?

Accepted Answer

The leakage of gas at a pesticide plant in India, known as the Bhopal disaster, raised concerns about the safety and regulation of technological advances, highlighting the potential risks and uncertainties associated with industrial technology.

Question 13

Which social scientist first discovered that creative outputs and inventions seem to occur in patterned ways?

Accepted Answer

Nikolai Kondratiev, a Russian economist, was the first to observe long-term patterns of economic growth and decline, which he referred to as "Kondratiev waves." These waves are characterized by periods of economic expansion and innovation followed by periods of contraction and crisis. Kondratiev argued that these waves were driven by technological innovations and changes in the organization of production. This observation later influenced the study of innovation and creativity in various fields, including sociology and psychology.

Question 14

Which of the following characterizes a risk society?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following characterizes a risk...

Question 15

Daniel is aware that in the production of his new patented invention,there is the possibility for things to go awry.He believes that this possibility for harm is outweighed by the potential of his invention to be beneficial.Which of the following terms is used to refer to how Daniel most likely views the less positive possibilities of invention?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Daniel is aware that in the production...

Question 16

According to Ulrich Beck,which of the following is more worrisome than the fact that technologies are likely to fail sometimes?

Accepted Answer

Ulrich Beck argues that environmental threats posed by technology are more worrisome than the fact that technologies are likely to fail sometimes. Beck's concept of "risk society" suggests that as a result of the increasing complexity of technology, humans are faced with a wide range of potential risks and vulnerabilities, many of which are environmental in nature. Therefore, the potential impact of these risks on human health and well-being, as well as the health of the planet, are more concerning than the occasional technological failure.

Question 17

What term does the textbook use to refer to the period of time when the majority of people believed that scientific and technological advances would produce only benefits?

Accepted Answer

The textbook uses the term "era of naïve optimism" to refer to the period of time when the majority of people believed that scientific and technological advances would produce only benefits.

Question 18

What effect did the invention of the steam engine and the internal combustion engine have during the Industrial Revolution?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What effect did the invention of the...

Question 19

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?

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 20

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the textbook,when was the steam...

Quiz 22: Technology and The Global Environment

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