Question 1

According to the text, which country today would be considered to be strictly in Stage 2 of demographic transition?

Accepted Answer

Stage 2 of demographic transition is characterized by high birth rates and high death rates. Afghanistan fits this description, as it has both a high fertility rate (5.6 births per woman) and a high infant mortality rate (45 deaths per 1,000 live births). England and Canada are both in Stage 4, with low birth rates and low death rates, while Mexico is in Stage 3, with declining but still relatively high birth rates and decreasing death rates.

Question 2

According to the text, which description corresponds to the measures of infant mortality rate?

Accepted Answer

The text states that infant mortality rate is "considered an important indicator of a country's level of economic and social development in terms of factors such as health care, education, and proper sanitation."

Question 3

Alphonse and Justyn joined a group of environmental activists who marched in front of the Canadian Parliament buildings and then in from of the Alberta Legislature to protest the further development of the "oil sands" in Alberta. According to the text, why is extracting oil from bituminous sands or "oil sands" a contentious process?

Accepted Answer

Extracting oil from bituminous sands or "oil sands" produces more greenhouse gas than conventional oil extraction processes due to the energy-intensive extraction process. This is a major concern for environmental activists who are calling for a shift towards more sustainable and less carbon-intensive forms of energy.

Question 4

A prominent ecologist writes a book bemoaning the "rape" of the environment as a consequence of rampant capitalism: how the drive for profits fuels consumer society without regard for the planet. What is the term for the process he is describing?

Accepted Answer

The ecologist is describing the "treadmill of production", which is the economic process where consumption and production are constantly increasing in order to sustain economic growth and profits, leading to environmental degradation.

Question 5

Sanjay has takeout meals for lunch every day. He goes to the local food court and brings his meal back to his desk. When he is finished lunch, he throws out the styrofoam containers and plastic utensils. According to the text, this practice is part of what kind of society?

Accepted Answer

Sanjay's practice of using styrofoam containers and plastic utensils that are meant to be disposed of after a single use is indicative of a disposable society, where convenience and ease of use take precedence over sustainability and efficiency.

Question 6

According to the text, what is the first step to living green?

Accepted Answer

The text states that the first step to living green is acknowledging personal behaviours that represent consumption.

Question 7

Coal, a polluting fossil fuel, has been rebranded as "clean coal," with controlled emissions and open-pit mines reclaimed for green space. Advocates claim coal is necessary for economic growth, while being environmentally friendly. What term identifies this approach?

Accepted Answer

The rebranding of coal as "clean coal" and the reclamation of open-pit mines for green space suggests an attempt at sustainable development, which seeks to balance economic growth with environmental concerns. Energy independence and zero-sum energy analysis do not capture this approach, as the former is focused solely on reducing reliance on foreign sources of energy, while the latter assumes that one form of energy production necessarily comes at the expense of others. Environmental science is a broad field that includes the study of coal and its impact on the environment, but does not specifically identify this approach.

Question 8

According the text, what is Canada's consumption footprint relative to its level of biocapacity?

Accepted Answer

The text states that Canada has a "high rate of consumption and higher level of biocapacity" compared to other countries. Therefore, option C is the best choice as it accurately reflects this information.

Question 9

Jonathan wants to examine why a particular company continues to ignore environmental toxins that it is producing. According to the text, which of the following paradigms would be a good framework for this study?

Accepted Answer

The Human Exemptionalism Paradigm (HEP) focuses on the belief that humans are separate from and superior to nature, which can explain why a company might ignore environmental concerns.

Question 10

Dana's mother always told stories of hardship from when she was a child and from when Dana's grandmother was a child to demonstrate how much easier life was for Dana. With fewer monetary concerns and more luxury items accessible to Dana, which of the following world views do these stories support?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dana's mother always told stories of hardship...

Question 11

According to the text, what is the term used to describe the use of resources at a rate that exceeds sustainability?

Accepted Answer

The text mentions "overconsumption" as the term used to describe the use of resources at a rate that exceeds sustainability.

Question 12

According to the text, what is an ecological footprint?

Accepted Answer

The text clearly defines an ecological footprint as an estimate of how much land and water area a human population requires to live, which means choice B is the correct answer. A, C, and D are not accurate descriptions of the ecological footprint.

Question 13

A wealthy industrialist protests against government regulations forcing a cleanup of his polluting processes. He argues that the cleanup will cost too much and that it is humanity's right to have mastery over the environment. What term best defines his position?

Accepted Answer

The wealthy industrialist's position is anthropocentric, meaning that he places humans at the center of the universe and sees nature as subservient to human needs and wants. He believes that humans have a right to do whatever they want with the environment, even if it means polluting it, and that government regulations to protect the environment are unnecessary and unwanted.

Question 14

According to the text, which of the following environmental paradigms promotes the idea that humans are able to overcome problems through technical innovation?

Accepted Answer

The human-exemptionalism paradigm promotes the idea that humans are able to overcome environmental problems through technical innovation and that nature exists only to serve human needs.

Question 15

According to the text, which country would be strictly in the postindustrial economic stage (Stage 4)?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, which country would...

Question 16

The demographic transition addresses changing fertility and mortality rates over time. What trend does this transition track?

Accepted Answer

The demographic transition tracks the trend from high to low birth and death rates in wealthier nations, as these nations have progressed through stages of economic and social development.

Question 17

Emanuel has just finished a study in Alberta that indicates how much wind power must be captured if fossil fuel consumption is to decline, while still maintaining the standard of living. According to the text, which of the following is Emanuel trying to manipulate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Emanuel has just finished a study in...

Question 18

Which of the following relates to Stage 1 of the demographic transition theory?

Accepted Answer

Stage 1 of the demographic transition theory is characterized by high birth rates and high death rates, resulting in a stable population. This stage is typical of preindustrial societies where technological advancements and improvements in healthcare have not yet led to significant population growth.

Question 19

According to the text, what is the term used for development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet its own needs?

Accepted Answer

The term used for development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet its own needs is sustainable development.

Question 20

What term describes the economic system's need for increasing profits through consumer demand?

Accepted Answer

The term "treadmill of production" refers to the economic system's need for increasing profits through constantly increasing consumer demand, leading to unsustainable resource consumption and environmental degradation.

Quiz 14: Going Green: Environmental Sociology