Deck 17: Understanding Health Care, environmental, and Energy Policy

Question 1

Which of the following pieces of legislation first required agencies to file environmental impact statements?

A)the National Environmental Policy Act
B)the Clean Water Act
C)the Clean Air Act -Consider This: This Act was more specific to combatting air pollution.
D)the Superfund Act

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following best describes how cap-and-trade is a market-based solution for dealing with carbon dioxide emissions?

A)The market has reduced carbon dioxide emissions without government intervention because companies have self-regulated to remain competitive.-Consider This: Cap-and-trade produces monetary incentives for reducing emissions.
B)The states have reduced carbon dioxide emissions because the federal government has been unwilling to do so.
C)Companies that pollute have spent significant money lobbying Congress to grant them exemptions from environmental regulations.
D)It allows those who reduce emissions to sell credits to those who do not meet environmental standards.

Answer 2

It allows those who reduce emissions to sell credits to those who do not meet environmental standards.

Question 3

Which of the following is a primary obstacle to balancing the federal budget?

A)health care costs
B)environmental policies
C)education expenses -Consider This: Most education funding comes from state or local sources.
D)monetary policies

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is the largest federal independent regulatory agency?

A)the Food and Drug Administration
B)the Central Intelligence Agency -Consider This: The CIA is not a regulatory agency.
C)the Environmental Protection Agency
D)the Internal Revenue Service

Question 5

Questions 15 and 16 refer to the following graph.
Importing Petroleum Source: U.S.Energy Information Administration,2016.
Which of the following trends does the graph indicate?

A)U.S.petroleum imports have steadily increased over the years.
B)Petroleum imports have remained relatively stable since 1990.
C)The U.S.petroleum imports rose steadily before rapidly declining.
D)The U.S.found other sources of energy and no longer needed petroleum.-Consider This: The U.S.still relies heavily on petroleum,it just produces more of it domestically.

Question 6

The rising costs of health care. Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,2016.

-Based on the graph,how much do Americans spend on health care each year?

A)$3 million
B)$30 million
C)$3 billion -Consider This: This is a drop in the bucket compared to total spending.
D)$3 trillion

Question 7

Questions 1 and 2 refer to the following graph.
The costs and benefits of health care. Source: World Health Statistics 2015 (Geneva,Switzerland: World Health Organization,2015),43-53,142-149.
Note: Data are for 2012 and 2013.
Based on the graph,which of the following countries has the lowest infant mortality rate and the highest life expectancy?

A)the United States
B)France -Consider This: France is second in both infant mortality rate and highest life expectancy.
C)Canada
D)Japan

Question 8

Which of the following was passed by Congress in 1965?

A)Affordable Care Act -Consider This: The Affordable Care Act was an initiative of the Obama administration.
B)Children's Health Insurance Program
C)Emergency Medical Treatment Act
D)Medicare

Question 9

Who was the first president to propose a national health insurance program to be run by the government?

A)Franklin Roosevelt
B)Bill Clinton -Consider This: Clinton spearheaded the second major effort provide national health care.
C)Harry Truman
D)Barack Obama

Question 10

Questions 13 and 14 refer to the following graph.
Sources of America's energy Source: U.S.Energy Information Agency,2016.
What is America's most abundant energy source?

A)renewable energy
B)petroleum
C)coal -Consider This: Coal is the nation's most abundant fuel,but it is not our greatest energy source.
D)natural gas

Question 11

The costs and benefits of health care. Source: World Health Statistics 2015 (Geneva,Switzerland: World Health Organization,2015),43-53,142-149.
Note: Data are for 2012 and 2013.

-How does the health care system in the United States compare to other democracies?

A)The United States has a more expensive health care system than other democracies.
B)The United States has an entirely privatized health care system,while other democracies have entirely public health care systems.-Consider This: Although most health care in the US is privatized,public health comprises a large portion of the system.
C)The United States has a less expensive health care system than other democracies.
D)The United States has a very similar health care system to many other democracies.

Question 12

Which of the following is true of the Affordable Care Act?

A)It is a national government takeover of health care.
B)It provides universal coverage to all Americans.-Consider This: ACA does not provide universal health care.
C)It involves a single-payer health care system.
D)It requires all Americans to have health insurance.

Question 13

The rising costs of health care. Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,2016.

-Which of the following is a significant cause of rapidly increasing healthcare costs?

A)Medicare
B)employer-funded health insurance
C)Social Security -Consider This: Although Social Security spending is increasing rapidly,it is not the fastest growing component of the budget.
D)covering the costs of the uninsured

Question 14

Questions 5 and 6 refer to the following graph.
The costs and benefits of health care. Source: World Health Statistics 2015 (Geneva,Switzerland: World Health Organization,2015),43-53,142-149.
Note: Data are for 2012 and 2013.
Based on the graph,which of the following is true of current health care policy in America?

A)The federal government provides health care to all citizens.
B)Americans are far healthier than Europeans.
C)Total health care spending in the United States is about 17 to 18 percent of GDP.
D)Nations with government funded healthcare spend more than the U.S.-Consider This: European nations,Canada,and Japan have lower per capita costs than the U.S.

Question 15

Questions 15 and 16 refer to the following graph.
Importing Petroleum Source: U.S.Energy Information Administration,2016.
Which of the following best articulates a disadvantage of U.S.dependence on foreign oil?

A)The need for oil is expected to decline during the next two decades,threating trade relations with other nations.
B)Foreign oil is of a lower quality than domestic oil.
C)Using foreign oil results in increased pollution in the United States due to the possibility of oil spills.-Consider This: The greatest risk of an oil spill is at the drilling site.
D)The United States is at the mercy of other nations with which we might not always have a good relationship.

Question 16

Questions 17 and 18 refer to the following image. Credit: Chris Britt/Creators Syndicate
What is the cartoonist's main argument?

A)Conserving energy is a simple task that anyone can undertake.-Consider This: The cartoonist indicates that conserving energy requires a significant change of lifestyle.
B)It is impossible to effectively conserve energy in the 21^st century.
C)People need to make sacrifices to conserve energy.
D)Energy conservation is unnecessary in the modern world.

Question 17

Which of the following situations is most likely to create an incentive for doctors to provide unnecessary procedures?

A)a fee-for-service health insurance policy
B)free market health care
C)a single-payer system
D)a health maintenance organization -Consider This: HMOs help to lower costs.

Question 18

What proportion of Americans have private health insurance of some kind-either through an employer or purchased individually?

A)one-third
B)one-half
C)two-thirds -Consider This: Fewer than two-thirds of Americans get their health care from their workplace.
D)three-fourths

Question 19

The costs and benefits of health care. Source: World Health Statistics 2015 (Geneva,Switzerland: World Health Organization,2015),43-53,142-149.
Note: Data are for 2012 and 2013.

-Why might the information the graph indicate concerns about the United States healthcare system?

A)The U.S.has a lower life expectancy than other developed nations.
B)The U.S.has a lower infant mortality rate than other developed nations.
C)Life expectancy in the U.S.is only slightly higher than other nations.
D)Life expectancy in the U.S.is much higher than other developed nations.- Consider This: Despite spending a larger percentage of GDP on health care,our life expectancy is not higher.

Question 20

Questions 13 and 14 refer to the following graph.
Sources of America's energy Source: U.S.Energy Information Agency,2016.
Which of the following is an argument against this reliance on petroleum?

A)Oil production poses multiple environmental hazards.
B)Americans have been working in coal mines for more than a century.
C)Oil companies have not come up with new methods to extract oil.-Consider This: Some of these new methods,like "fracking" are scrutinized for their potentially adverse effects on the environment.
D)Relying on oil strengthens the monopolies that control it.

Question 21

Of the following examples,who is the least likely to have health insurance in the United States?

A)children
B)the poor -Consider This: The poorest Americans are eligible for Medicaid.
C)the elderly
D)young adults

Question 22

What is the Superfund?

A)a congressional fund to reduce carbon emissions
B)a congressional fund to study global warming
C)a congressional fund to improve air quality -Consider This: The Superfund is more narrowly targeted.
D)a congressional fund to clean up hazardous waste sites

Question 23

Which of the following pieces of legislation is credited with dramatically increasing the water quality in U.S.lakes and rivers?

A)Toxic Waste Reduction Act
B)Endangered Aquatic Species Act
C)Water Chemical Reduction Act -Consider This: This was not the legislation most responsible for improved water quality.
D)Water Pollution Control Act

Question 24

Which of the following is true of how the U.S.government handles ensuring health care to the poor and the elderly?

A)Medicare provides health care to the poor,and Medicaid provides health care to the elderly.-Consider This: Medicare is for the elderly.
B)Medicare provides health care to the elderly,and Medicaid provides health care to the poor.
C)Medicare replaced Medicaid in order to provide health care to poor people as well as the elderly.
D)Medicaid replaced Medicare in order to provide health care to poor people as well as the elderly.

Question 25

In recent years,how has the government limited Medicare costs?

A)raising the eligibility age -Consider This: Although the eligibility age for Social Security has increased,it has not increased for Medicare.
B)requiring patients to obtain a supplemental private plan
C)capping the total expenditures per patient
D)reducing the fees it pays to doctors and hospitals

Question 26

Which of the following groups does the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)benefit?

A)Children whose families are currently enrolled in Medicare.-Consider This: CHIPs was designed to provide for children whose parents make too much money to qualify for Medicaid.
B)Children whose families cannot afford private insurance but cannot qualify for Medicaid.
C)Children whose families are currently enrolled in an HMO.
D)Children whose families do not make enough money to receive Medicaid.

Question 27

What is one reason that health care policy in the United States tends to favor the elderly?

A)American political culture places a heavy emphasis on respecting your elders.
B)The AARP is a powerful lobby.
C)A majority of Congress is elderly.
D)The elderly have greater financial resources to use to influence public policy.-Consider This: The elder vote is more important than their campaign contributions.

Question 28

Which of the following helps to explain why the United States relies more heavily on expensive,high-tech medical treatments as compared to the United Kingdom?

A)Americans spend more time in the hospital.
B)The United States has more advanced medical technology.-Consider This: The US does have advanced medical technology,but costs are controlled in the UK through its national health care system.
C)The United States has a single-payer health care system.
D)U.S.health care costs are paid from a mixture of sources,leaving no single source primarily responsible for controlling health care costs.

Question 29

What is an environmental impact statement?

A)A statement prepared by federal agencies detailing the potential environmental impact of a policy proposed by the government.
B)An analysis of how a private entity has negatively impacted the environment.- Consider This: EIS's apply to government entities.
C)A statement prepared by Congress detailing the potential environmental impact of proposed legislation.
D)A notice of concern sent to all individuals and businesses located close to a Superfund site.

Question 30

Which of the following statements about health care in the United States compared with other industrialized nations is accurate?

A)The United States has lower health care costs because its people are healthier.
B)Other industrialized nations have lower health care costs and better health.
C)Other industrialized nations have higher health care costs because doctors are paid more.
D)The United States has the highest health care costs because we have the most advanced universal health care system in the world.-Consider This: Our costs are highest,but that does not translate into the best care.

Question 31

Which of the following is a provision of the Affordable Care Act?

A)Citizens who cannot afford to buy health insurance are exempt from the individual mandate.
B)All employers must provide health insurance for employees who work at least 30 hours a week.-Consider This: Only large employers must provide insurance for their fulltime workers.
C)The creation of a government-run health care program for all Americans who do not have private insurance.
D)Health insurance companies are prohibited from discriminating against people with preexisting conditions.

Question 32

In which era did health insurance become linked to employment?

A)Progressive Era
B)World War I
C)New Deal -Consider This: Health insurance was not a New Deal program.
D)World War II

Question 33

What is the name for networks of health care providers that directly provide all or most of a person's health care for a yearly fee?

A)health maintenance organizations
B)hospital networks
C)alliances of health
D)fee-for-service networks -Consider This: Fee-for-service programs pay on the basis of individual services.

Question 34

Which of the following is an argument in favor of having national health insurance in the United States?

A)Patients would have more individual control over their health care.
B)All Americans would have access to health care.
C)A national insurance program would promote fair competition among private insurers.
D)A national insurance program would replace the unpopular Medicare and Medicaid programs.-Consider This: Medicare is a popular government program.

Question 35

Which of the following techniques is used to release and capture petroleum and natural gas from the underground rock layer?

A)fission technology -Consider This: Fission technology is associated with nuclear energy.
B)hydro fusion
C)geothermal fusion
D)hydraulic fracturing

Question 36

For which of the following groups does Medicaid cover the majority of costs?

A)nursing home residents
B)women giving birth
C)people with severe disabilities
D)senior citizens -Consider This: Medicare covers the majority of senior citizens.

Question 37

Which of the following is one of the reasons why universal health care was not adopted in the United States when it was first proposed more than 60 years ago?

A)Liberals wanted insurance provided by private companies only.-Consider This: Liberals were proponents of universal health care.
B)The American Medical Association opposed what it derided as "socialized medicine."
C)Congress was only interested in passing legislation that benefited them personally,and members of Congress already had health care.
D)Americans who lacked health insurance were afraid that private employers would no longer provide coverage.

Question 38

What argument is most often given by opponents of strong air and water pollution controls?

A)They ignore wildlife conservation issues.
B)They make it hard for private entities to create stricter standards.
C)They fall disproportionately on the poor.-Consider This: Pollution controls primarily affect industries.
D)They could reduce economic growth.

Question 39

Which was the last of the following federal programs to be adopted?

A)The Affordable Care Act
B)Medicare
C)Medicaid -Consider This: Medicare and Medicaid were both established in 1965.
D)CHIPs