Question 1

According to Manuel Castells, megacities are:

Accepted Answer

Manuel Castells defines megacities as connection points between huge populations of people and the global economy. They are characterized by their ability to attract and concentrate capital, information, and power, which makes them strategic places for the creation and accumulation of wealth. Therefore, megacities are not only physically larger than most cities but also have an important economic function in the globalized world. Choices A and C are incorrect because they present partial or incorrect views of megacities, and choice D is incorrect because megacities are actually growing and becoming more important in different regions of the world.

Question 2

Explain how demography fits within the discipline of sociology. Define one of the following (crude birthrates, fertility, infant mortality rate), and explain why it is considered an important measure for demographers.

Accepted Answer

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Question 3

Sociologists debate whether a second demographic transition has begun in the most developed industrial countries. What is the second demographic transition, and what measures may indicate whether it is happening?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sociologists debate whether a second demographic transition...

Question 4

________________ sociology tended to minimize or ignore the importance of human impact on the environment, whereas ___________ sociology studies interactions between humans and the natural environment.

Accepted Answer

Classical sociology, which refers to the founding figures of sociology such as Durkheim, Marx, and Weber, tended to focus on social structures and institutions rather than the environment. Environmental sociology, on the other hand, explores the relationship between humans and the natural world, including issues of sustainability and resource use.

Question 5

The process of more-affluent groups moving back into cities and renovating dilapidated buildings and neighborhoods is called:

Accepted Answer

Gentrification refers to the process of wealthier residents investing in and improving run-down urban neighborhoods, often resulting in displacement of the lower-income population.

Question 6

Gentrification often fails to foster dialogue between new white residents and former black residents because:

Accepted Answer

Gentrification often involves the displacement of low-income residents, who are disproportionately people of color, by middle- and upper-class white residents. This creates a social class barrier between the two groups that can be difficult to overcome. While racism may also play a role in preventing dialogue, it is not always the primary factor. Black families may not have necessarily fled to the suburbs when whites moved in, and white families renting homes to transients is not a significant enough factor to explain the lack of dialogue.

Question 7

Which statement represents the human exceptionalism paradigm (HEP)?

Accepted Answer

The human exceptionalism paradigm (HEP) is the belief that humans are fundamentally different from other species, and that our technological and societal progress can continue indefinitely without negative consequences. Choice C best represents this belief, as it implies that science and technology will continue to bring limitless opportunity and progress for humans, disregarding any potential negative impacts on the environment or other species. Choices A and D, on the other hand, acknowledge the limits of the natural world and the need for human management and planning, which contradicts the HEP. Choice B is not directly related to the HEP.

Question 8

The job that most closely illustrates the informal economy is:

Accepted Answer

A housekeeper paid "under the table" is an example of working in the informal economy, where jobs are not reported for tax purposes and lack legal protections and benefits. The other job choices listed are all part of the formal economy, where jobs are recognized and protected by laws and regulations.

Question 9

Although today sociologists tend to use the terms interchangeably, ghettos are areas where particular people are forced to live, whereas slums are:

Accepted Answer

Slums are areas populated by poor people, whereas ghettos are areas where particular people are forced to live, such as racial or ethnic minorities who have been segregated from the rest of society. The other options are either inaccurate or overly simplistic.

Question 10

As global cities, what are two characteristics that New York, London, and Tokyo have in common? Use Saskia Sassen's theory as the basis for your answer. If you were to develop her theory, what is one additional characteristic of global cities that you would add?

Accepted Answer

The answer of As global cities, what are two characteristics...

Question 11

The term meaning "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" that originated from a report by the World Commission on Environment and Development is:

Accepted Answer

The term described is "sustainable development." It was coined in a report by the World Commission on Environment and Development, titled "Our Common Future," which aimed to address the challenges of economic development while also protecting the environment for future generations.

Question 12

The rapid increase in suburbanization in the United States occurred in the:

Accepted Answer

The rapid increase in suburbanization occurred in the 1950s and 1960s, following World War II and the availability of affordable automobiles, the development of the interstate highway system, and the government's investment in the construction of single-family homes. This period is also known as the "suburban boom."

Question 13

The process of the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that acts like the glass on a greenhouse and causes the average temperature of the earth to rise is called:

Accepted Answer

The buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which acts like a greenhouse and causes the average temperature of the earth to rise, is specifically known as global warming. Depletion of the ozone layer, toxic waste, and climate change are related to environmental issues but do not refer specifically to the process of carbon dioxide buildup and temperature increase.

Question 14

How is the Anthropocene shown in this photograph? [img/]

Accepted Answer

The photograph shows trash littered on the ground, which represents the primary geological influence of human activity in the Anthropocene.

Question 15

What is one element of the ecological approach to urban analysis (the Chicago School) that, in your view, is still useful today? What is one element of this approach that is no longer useful for the study of cities?

Accepted Answer

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Question 16

According to the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, the planet's temperature is rapidly rising. The panel pointed out that the past 11 of 12 years have been the warmest on record. The cause of this warming is considered to be:

Accepted Answer

The IPCC report states that the cause of the planet's rapidly rising temperature is human activity, specifically human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Geologic trends and hurricane activity in the North Atlantic are not cited as significant factors in the report, and while the shrinking of the polar ice caps is a consequence of global warming, it is not the primary cause.

Question 17

According to sociologists, Hurricane Katrina disproportionately affected poor black people in New Orleans because of ghettoized poverty, itself the consequence of:

Accepted Answer

Hurricane Katrina disproportionately affected poor black people in New Orleans due to a scarcity of resources for the poor. Many of these individuals lacked the financial means to evacuate or find safe shelter, as well as the necessary resources to rebuild in the aftermath of the disaster. Additionally, the lack of investment in infrastructure and social programs in these neighborhoods contributed to their vulnerability during and after the hurricane.

Question 18

Given past and recent rates of exploding population growth, what is the most widely accepted official prediction for the global population in 2050?

Accepted Answer

While population growth rates have been high in the past and are still high in some regions, there has been a recent trend towards declining fertility rates in many parts of the world. Additionally, there have been efforts to promote family planning and population control. Based on these trends, the United Nations projects that the global population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050, with a possible range of 8.3 to 11.2 billion. Therefore, choice A is the most widely accepted official prediction.

Question 19

Which of the following statements would most likely come from a Malthusian supporter?

Accepted Answer

Malthusian theory posits that population growth is potentially exponential while the growth of the food supply or other resources is linear, which can lead to periods of sharp crisis. Thus, a Malthusian supporter would likely advocate for controlling population growth through measures like improved access to family planning, especially in poorer countries where resources are more limited.

Question 20

The belief that population growth tends to outstrip expansion of food production, leading to natural curbs on the population such as famine and war, is called:

Accepted Answer

The description given in the question matches with the principle of Malthusianism. It postulates that population growth will surpass food production, resulting in unsustainable living conditions and natural curbs on the population such as famine, disease, and war.

Quiz 19: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment