Question 1

The expectation that global population will level off by the end of the century is most closely associated with
A)the tragedy of the commons.
B)the Club of Rome.
C)the theory of demographic transition.
D)Garret Hardin.

Accepted Answer

The theory of demographic transition is a widely accepted theory that explains how population growth is linked to economic development. As countries develop economically, birth rates typically decline due to changes in factors such as women's education and increased access to contraception. This results in a leveling off of global population growth, which is expected to occur by the end of the century. The tragedy of the commons (A) and Garret Hardin (D) are related to the concept of overexploitation of resources, while the Club of Rome (B) is a think tank that has published reports on global issues including population growth, but is not directly associated with the expectation of leveling off.

Question 2

The Club of Rome argued that the world had to achieve zero population growth at some point within 100 years of its report.

Accepted Answer

The Club of Rome argued for zero population growth at some point within 100 years of its report in 1972.

Question 3

Garrett Hardin and Thomas Malthus
A)were members of the Club of Rome.
B)opposed the Club of Rome's analysis.
C)worried about overpopulation.
D)predicted that the world would soon exhaust its oil supplies.

Accepted Answer

Both Garrett Hardin and Thomas Malthus were concerned about overpopulation and its effects on resources and the environment. They both argued that population growth needed to be controlled in order to prevent disastrous outcomes. They did not specifically address the issue of oil supplies. While they may have had disagreements with some aspects of the Club of Rome's analysis, they were not members of the organization.

Question 4

Thomas Malthus predicted that food production would not keep pace with population growth.

Accepted Answer

Malthusian theory argues that population growth would outstrip the resources needed to sustain it, particularly food production. He predicted that a population would increase exponentially while food production would increase linearly, leading to a point where population growth would overshoot the carrying capacity of the Earth, causing a Malthusian catastrophe.

Question 5

The tragedy of the commons assumes that individual and collective interests are the same.

Accepted Answer

The tragedy of the commons occurs when individuals act in their own self-interest, leading to depletion or degradation of shared resources. It assumes that individual interests may not necessarily align with collective interests.

Question 6

The theory of peak oil increasing supplies of oil is a problem from climate change.

Accepted Answer

The theory of peak oil is concerned with the point at which oil production reaches its maximum rate, after which production will terminally decline, rather than increasing supplies being a problem from climate change.

Question 7

Garrett Hardin
A)argued that the Club of Rome was too pessimistic.
B)believed global warming is a myth.
C)opposed the creation of the international food bank.
D)claimed that Thomas Malthus was an enemy of the working class.

Accepted Answer

Garrett Hardin was a critic of the international food bank plan, arguing that it would lead to overpopulation and resource depletion in the long run. He believed that providing aid to impoverished nations would only exacerbate their problems rather than solving them.

Question 8

Garrett Hardin rejected the idea that world is close to its carrying capacity.

Accepted Answer

Garrett Hardin was known for his work on population growth and resources, and he argued that the Earth has limits to its carrying capacity. He is famous for his 1968 essay "The Tragedy of the Commons," where he discussed how unregulated use of shared resources leads to depletion and ruin, implying a concern for overpopulation and its impact on Earth's carrying capacity.

Question 9

According to the Club of Rome,
A)technology will solve most of our resource problems.
B)the supply of food is the world's most pressing concern.
C)population growth must eventually be zero.
D)there is no limit to the world's carrying capacity.

Accepted Answer

The Club of Rome argued that population growth must eventually be zero in order to achieve sustainability because resources are finite and cannot support infinite growth. They also argued that technology alone cannot solve resource problems and that a combination of changes in technology, consumption patterns, and population growth is necessary. The Club of Rome did not identify the supply of food as the world's most pressing concern, nor did they suggest that there is no limit to the world's carrying capacity.

Question 10

The resurgence of concerns about the global commons during the 1950s and 1960s was partially the result of
A)unprecedented rates of global population growth.
B)the warnings of Thomas Malthus.
C)the impact of widespread access to birth control.
D)all of the above.

Accepted Answer

Unprecedented rates of global population growth during the 1950s and 1960s led to concerns about the depletion of natural resources and the degradation of the environment. This in turn sparked a renewed interest in the global commons, which are the shared resources of the Earth that are not owned by any one country or individual. The global commons include the atmosphere, oceans, and outer space, among other things. Thomas Malthus' warnings about overpopulation were also influential in shaping public attitudes towards the environment during this time period, but widespread access to birth control did not become a major factor until later.

Question 11

The theory of demographic transition predicts that
A)the population will continue to grow exponentially.
B)wealthier people and societies will have more children.
C)wealthier people and societies will have fewer children.
D)we will soon have more people than food to feed them.

Accepted Answer

The theory of demographic transition predicts that as societies become wealthier and more developed, they will transition from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates. This means that wealthier societies will have fewer children overall.

Question 12

Thomas Malthus argued that the productivity of the industrial revolution would make it possible to support a much larger global population.

Accepted Answer

Thomas Malthus actually argued the opposite - that population growth would outstrip the increase in productivity from the industrial revolution, leading to poverty and famine.

Question 13

The Club of Rome
A)worried most about food production.
B)was first to suggest the problem of climate change.
C)focused on the problem of infinite resources.
D)focused on the problem of finite resources.

Accepted Answer

The Club of Rome was primarily concerned with the problem of finite resources, as reflected in their most famous publication, "The Limits to Growth," which discussed the limits of growth in light of resource depletion and environmental degradation. While they did discuss issues related to food production and climate change, their primary focus was on the broader issue of resource scarcity.

Question 14

The tragedy of the commons
A)suggests the Club of Rome was wrong.
B)illustrates why community resources might be overused.
C)presents an argument against private property.
D)assumes that individual and collective interests usually coincide.

Accepted Answer

The tragedy of the commons is a situation where individuals, acting in their own self-interest, use a shared resource (such as a pasture or fishery) to the point where it becomes depleted or damaged. This illustrates why community resources might be overused and suggests the need for regulation or management of these resources to prevent their depletion. It does not necessarily argue against private property or imply that individual and collective interests always coincide.

Question 15

Carrying capacity refers to the level of population the world can sustain.

Accepted Answer

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals or population size that an ecosystem can sustainably support without being degraded over the long term.

Question 16

Thomas Malthus
A)thought global populations would level off at about 10 billion.
B)criticized the World Food Bank.
C)rejected the analysis of the Club of Rome.
D)argued that food production would not keep pace with population growth.

Accepted Answer

Thomas Malthus argued that food production would not keep pace with population growth. He proposed that population growth would eventually lead to famine and widespread suffering.

Question 17

Neotraditionalists are generally skeptical that technology will solve problems of resource depletion and environmental degradation.

Accepted Answer

Neotraditionalists reject the idea that technology alone can solve the environmental crisis and argue for a broader shift in values towards sustainable living.

Question 18

The theory of peak oil predicts that
A)the discovery of new oil fields will keep pace with rising consumption.
B)demand for oil will soon decline.
C)renewable energy sources will soon replace oil.
D)the production of oil cannot keep pace with rising levels of consumption.

Accepted Answer

The theory of peak oil predicts that the production of oil cannot keep pace with rising levels of consumption, leading to a peak in oil production followed by a decline in production capacity. This is based on the assumption that oil reserves are finite and that production capacity will eventually reach a maximum limit.

Question 19

Global population growth
A)stopped in the 1950s.
B)is greatest in the developed world.
C)was not considered a problem by the Club of Rome.
D)should level off this century according to the theory of demographic transition.

Accepted Answer

The theory of demographic transition predicts that as countries develop and their standard of living improves, their birth and death rates will both decrease, leading to a stable population. Therefore, it is expected that global population growth will level off this century. Option A is incorrect as global population growth has not stopped in the 1950s. Option B is incorrect as population growth is actually greater in the developing world. Option C is incorrect as the Club of Rome recognized and published concerns about overpopulation in their 1972 report "The Limits to Growth."

Question 20

Most who accept the theory of demographic transition expect global population to
A)keep rising indefinitely.
B)level off at under 10 billion.
C)decrease as a result of resource shortages.
D)stay about where it now.

Accepted Answer

The theory of demographic transition suggests that as countries industrialize and develop, their birth rates and death rates both decrease, leading to a stabilized population. Many experts predict that the global population will level off at under 10 billion people as more countries go through this transition.

Quiz 13: The Global Commons Index

The expectation that global population will level off by the end of the century is most closely associated with

The Club of Rome argued that the world had to achieve zero population growth at some point within 100 years of its report.

Garrett Hardin and Thomas Malthus

Thomas Malthus predicted that food production would not keep pace with population growth.

The tragedy of the commons assumes that individual and collective interests are the same.

The theory of peak oil increasing supplies of oil is a problem from climate change.

Garrett Hardin

Garrett Hardin rejected the idea that world is close to its carrying capacity.

According to the Club of Rome,

The resurgence of concerns about the global commons during the 1950s and 1960s was partially the result of

The theory of demographic transition predicts that

Thomas Malthus argued that the productivity of the industrial revolution would make it possible to support a much larger global population.

The Club of Rome

The tragedy of the commons

Carrying capacity refers to the level of population the world can sustain.

Thomas Malthus

Neotraditionalists are generally skeptical that technology will solve problems of resource depletion and environmental degradation.

The theory of peak oil predicts that

Global population growth

Most who accept the theory of demographic transition expect global population to