Question 1

Robert Brym relates an anecdote about a high school model parliament in which he was unable to motivate his schoolmates to undertake political protest. His anecdote underscores the difficulties bound up in creating which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The anecdote highlights the challenge of mobilizing a group of people into collective action, which is the process of organizing individuals to work together towards a common goal. In this case, the goal was political protest. Therefore, the answer is C - collective action.

Question 2

Which of the following best characterizes the world's richest countries?

Accepted Answer

The world's richest countries consume the greatest share of the Earth's resources due to their high levels of industrialization and consumption patterns. This has resulted in a disproportionately large carbon footprint compared to developing countries.

Question 3

According to breakdown theory, which of the following is a necessary characteristic of potential leaders of a social movement?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to breakdown theory, which of the...

Question 4

What term is used for enduring and usually organized collective attempts to change (or resist change to) part or all of the social order?

Accepted Answer

Social movements are organized and ongoing efforts by groups of people to bring about or resist social change. Social actions can refer to individual or group actions that aim to bring about or resist social change, but they may not necessarily be organized or enduring. Social institutions refer to established patterns of behavior and relationships that persist over time, such as the family, education system, and government. Social organizations refer to specific groups with a particular goal or purpose, but they may not necessarily be focused on changing or resisting the social order.

Question 5

Carly's younger brother has asked to her to help him with a presentation for his Grade 6 social studies class. His topic is on the sources of pollution around the world, and he has to present evidence on the country that produces the most pollutants responsible for global warming. On which of the following countries would Carly tell her brother to do his presentation?

Accepted Answer

The United States has historically been one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible for global warming. Although China has surpassed the US in annual emissions, the US remains a significant contributor and has a high per capita emission rate.

Question 6

Most Canadians view environmental problems as real but, at the same time, as remote and abstract. According to the textbook, what effect does this have with respect to the implementation of strategies to resolve environmental degradation?

Accepted Answer

If Canadians view environmental problems as remote and abstract, they may not be willing to make personal sacrifices to resolve these issues, such as changing their lifestyle or habits to reduce their ecological footprint. This can hinder the implementation of strategies to address environmental degradation.

Question 7

Strategies that invest heavily in energy-saving technologies, environmental cleanup, and subsidizing environmentally friendly industrialization are grouped under which of the following categories?

Accepted Answer

These strategies are considered cooperative alternatives because they involve collaborative efforts to address environmental issues and promote sustainability.

Question 8

Which of the following factors suggests that market forces on their own cannot solve environmental problems because prices are often artificially supported?

Accepted Answer

Market forces rely on prices to communicate information about supply, demand, and scarcity. However, in many cases, prices are artificially supported by government subsidies or regulations, which distorts the signals that prices are supposed to send. This means that prices may not prompt necessary changes in consumer behavior, and therefore, market forces may not be sufficient to solve environmental problems.

Question 9

Heather is angered because people only see the cost of fuel at the pump but not the overall cost to the environment of extracting the fuel, transporting the fuel, and storing the fuel. What is she angry about?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Heather is angered because people only see...

Question 10

Which of the following nations is most likely to be responsible for global environmental damage?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following nations is most...

Question 11

According to the text, before any drastic interventions will be adopted or accepted, which of the following must the entire developed world do?

Accepted Answer

The text states that before any drastic interventions will be adopted or accepted, the entire developed world must accept that environmental issues are grave enough to justify making substantial economic sacrifices. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. The other options are not mentioned or suggested in the text.

Question 12

The inhabitants of which of the following geographic areas cause a disproportionately large share of the world's environmental problems?

Accepted Answer

The Northern Hemisphere is home to the majority of the world's industrialized countries, which contribute significantly to pollution and environmental degradation through high levels of resource consumption, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 13

The anti-nuclear movement is an example of a movement that forced changes in corporate and government policies. What is demonstrated by the success of this movement?

Accepted Answer

The success of the anti-nuclear movement demonstrates the importance of political pressure in influencing change in corporate and government policies. Through grassroots organizing and lobbying, the movement was able to sway public opinion and elected officials to prioritize alternative energy sources and increased safety regulations in the nuclear industry. While global media may have played a role in spreading awareness about the issue, it was ultimately the collective goals and political pressure of the movement that led to tangible policy changes. Rapid change may have been a byproduct of these efforts, but it was not necessarily the most important factor.

Question 14

On the basis of which of the following has it been optimistically argued that various forms of environmental degradation will be resolved?

Accepted Answer

Human inventiveness and the profit motive have been optimistically argued as driving forces for finding solutions to environmental degradation. The idea is that economic incentives will drive innovation and the development of sustainable technologies. Global need, cooperative research, and consumer resolve may also contribute to finding solutions, but they may not be as powerful as the profit motive in driving change.

Question 15

Which of the following best supports the view that market forces alone CANNOT resolve environmental problems?

Accepted Answer

The fact that social change is slower than technological change shows that market forces alone cannot resolve environmental problems as societal change is needed as well.

Question 16

Which of the following groups are most at risk for environmental racism?

Accepted Answer

Those in the lowest socio-economic class are most at risk for environmental racism because they are more likely to live in areas with high levels of pollution and other environmental hazards.

Question 17

According to breakdown theory, which of the following must occur before a social movement can form?

Accepted Answer

According to breakdown theory, social movements form when existing norms are disrupted or strained, leading to a sense of injustice or dissatisfaction among a group of people. This can create the conditions for collective action and the formation of a movement. The other answer choices are not consistent with breakdown theory.

Question 18

Until the 1970s, many sociologists believed that the people who lead and first join social movements are likely to be which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Until the 1970s, many sociologists believed that the people who lead and first join social movements are likely to be socially marginalized. This means that they are excluded from mainstream society and power structures due to their race, gender, class, or other factors. Social movements often seek to address these marginalizing factors and provide a platform for those who are excluded to have a voice and create change.

Question 19

Which of the following terms is used by sociologists to characterize a situation in which people act in unison to bring about or resist social, political, and economic change?

Accepted Answer

Collective action is used by sociologists to describe a situation in which individuals act together in a coordinated and planned manner in order to bring about or resist social, political or economic change. This could include things like protests, strikes, or boycotts. Subversion refers to an attempt to overthrow or undermine an existing system or government, while democratic government and economic development are not specifically related to collective action.

Question 20

The B.C. Teachers' Federation threatened various job actions after a year's worth of negotiations did NOT bring them any closer to a contract with the provincial government. What is the B.C. Teachers' Federation engaging in?

Accepted Answer

The B.C. Teachers' Federation is engaging in a protest organization because they are threatening job actions in order to try to get a contract with the provincial government.

Quiz 13: Technology, the Environment, and Social Movements