Question 1

According to the text,which of the following is one of the four major eras of environmental activism?

Accepted Answer

The text explicitly states that "the conservation era" is one of the four major eras of environmental activism.

Question 2

In 2007 Kevin Tubbs was sentenced to more than twelve years in prison for his part in setting fire to an SUV dealership,a ranger station,and a tree farm.He expressed remorse and said that he was motivated by "hopelessness and desperation over cruelty to animals and destruction of the earth." What are his actions called?

Accepted Answer

Kevin Tubbs' actions are considered ecoterrorism because they involved the use of violence and destruction to try to further an environmental cause.

Question 3

Earth first describes itself as a global organization,but its website contains links to local chapters in Montreal,the Netherlands,and Humboldt and Santa Cruz,California.What does this suggest about the organization?

Accepted Answer

The fact that Earth First has local chapters in different parts of the world suggests that the organization believes in grassroots environmentalism, meaning that change and advocacy happen at a local level rather than from a centralized authority. Local chapters are able to address and tackle specific environmental issues in their area, while still being part of a larger global movement.

Question 4

factories that produce noxious levels of pollution and toxic waste dumps are often located near areas where minorities and the poor reside.Which of the following terms could be used to describe this situation?

Accepted Answer

Environmental racism refers to the disproportionate burden of environmental hazards on minority and low-income communities. When factories that produce noxious levels of pollution and toxic waste dumps are located near areas where minorities and the poor reside, it is considered a case of environmental racism.

Question 5

A nature writer,Barry Lopez,spent time with the Inuit of the Arctic and concluded that hunting societies had different attitudes about the land than industrial ones because "the focus of a hunter in a hunting society was not killing animals but attending to the myriad relationships he understood bound him into the world he occupied with them." What kind of attitude do hunting societies have?

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests that hunting societies have a different attitude towards the land than industrial ones, and focuses on attending to the relationships with animals rather than simply killing them. This aligns with the principles of the new ecological paradigm, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of humans and the environment, and the need for humans to live in harmony with nature. It does not align with the other choices, as Judeo-Christian values and anthropocentrism prioritize human dominance over nature, and do not necessarily prioritize relationships with animals.

Question 6

The belief that humans will find ways to overcome any problems posed by pollution and waste is consistent with what attitude?

Accepted Answer

The belief that humans are exceptional and can overcome any environmental problem is consistent with the attitude of human exceptionalism.

Question 7

Although the federal government plans to store nuclear waste under a mountain in Nevada,many people who live in Nevada are trying their best to have it housed elsewhere,a classic example of:

Accepted Answer

The situation described is a classic example of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) syndrome, where people are opposed to a certain project or development if it is too close to their homes or communities, even if they may support it in theory.

Question 8

Why are the poor and minorities more likely to suffer health problems that result from exposure to pollution?

Accepted Answer

Studies have consistently shown that low-income and minority communities are more likely to be located near sources of pollution such as industrial plants, highways, and waste disposal sites. This is often due to historical patterns of discrimination and disinvestment in these communities. As a result, residents in these areas are exposed to higher levels of pollution, which increases the risk of health problems such as respiratory disease, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Question 9

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries,most environmental activism was focused on:

Accepted Answer

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the focus of environmental activism was primarily on protecting and conserving wilderness areas. The push for creating national parks and preserving wildlife and natural landscapes gained momentum during this time period. Other environmental concerns such as pollution and environmental justice did not become major issues until later in the twentieth century.

Question 10

An environmentalist named Aldo Leopold believed that we need to develop a "land ethic" that "changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it." What sort of attitude is Leopold trying to move our society away from?

Accepted Answer

Leopold is trying to move our society away from an anthropocentric attitude, which sees humans as the conquerors and rulers of the natural world. Instead, he advocates for a land ethic that recognizes humans as one species among many in the land-community, with a responsibility to act as responsible members and citizens of that community.

Question 11

How do people with an anthropocentric relationship with the environment perceive nature?

Accepted Answer

People with an anthropocentric relationship with the environment perceive nature as something to be conquered or used for human benefit. They view nature as a resource to be exploited for their own purposes rather than something to be preserved or studied for its inherent value.

Question 12

Today,many parents are worried about the bottles out of which their babies drink,because many contain plastics made with Bisphenol A,a compound that helps to make hard,clear,shatter-proof plastics but that might also be a neurotoxin,especially for children.Though science has yet to fully explore this issue,what era of the environmental movement does this concern most closely follow?

Accepted Answer

The concern about the use of plastics made with Bisphenol A in baby bottles is an issue that closely follows the era of the modern environmental movement, which began in the 1960s and focused on issues such as pollution, toxic waste, and environmental health. This concern is part of a broader movement towards reducing exposure to chemicals that may harm human health and the environment. The other choices are not as closely related to this specific issue. The conservation era (A) focused more on preserving natural resources and creating parks and protected areas. Mainstream environmentalism (B) emerged in the 1970s and focused on issues such as clean air and water, but was not as concerned with toxic chemicals or human health impacts. Grassroots environmentalism (C) refers to local, community-based efforts to protect the environment, but does not necessarily focus specifically on chemicals in baby bottles.

Question 13

During what era did the environmental movement focus on citizen participation and change at the local level?

Accepted Answer

Grassroots environmentalism focused on citizen participation and change at the local level, emphasizing the role of individuals in bringing about environmental change. This era emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, as part of the larger modern environmental movement.

Question 14

The Environmental Defense fund hires scientists,economists,and lawyers to lobby the government and to educate the public about the environmental consequences of modern life.They brag that they had a part in passing important elements of the Clean Air Act,California's emissions rules,and a treaty to phase out CfCs.With what era of the environmental movement is this sort of organization most commonly associated?

Accepted Answer

Mainstream environmentalism is characterized by organizations that work within the political system to advocate for environmental policies and regulations, often involving lobbying and public education, as described in the scenario.

Question 15

What book sparked the modern environmental movement in the 1960s?

Accepted Answer

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson is credited with sparking the modern environmental movement in the 1960s. The book brought attention to the harmful effects of pesticides and their impact on the environment, and it helped mobilize public support for environmental protection.

Question 16

Which political party made social justice,community-based economics,feminism,and diversity central to its platform?

Accepted Answer

The Green Party is known for its platform that centers on social justice, community-based economics, feminism, and diversity. These values are fundamental to the party's principles and policies.

Question 17

What environmental activist is credited with organizing the first Earth Day?

Accepted Answer

Gaylord Nelson, a United States Senator from Wisconsin, organized the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, as a way to bring national attention to the need for environmental reform.

Question 18

Modern economies require constant growth,and with that growth comes an ever-increasing need for resources,called:

Accepted Answer

The concept of the "treadmill of production" refers to the idea that modern economies require constant growth, which in turn leads to an ever-increasing need for resources. This cycle of growth and resource consumption continues indefinitely, with little consideration for the long-term environmental consequences. This concept is thus more closely related to the challenges of sustainability than the other choices provided.

Question 19

People who use violent or criminal methods to disrupt or destroy businesses or organizations that they believe are harming the environment are called:

Accepted Answer

Ecoterrorists use violent or criminal methods to disrupt or destroy businesses or organizations they believe are harming the environment. Environmental racists refers to individuals or groups that discriminate against certain races or ethnicities in environmental practices. Slow growth advocates generally support limiting or slowing down economic growth to protect the environment. Conservationists advocate for the protection and preservation of natural resources and ecosystems, but do not use violent or criminal methods.

Question 20

On July 1,1908,Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation that created forty-five national forests.Roosevelt was a passionate hunter and believed that all the game in America would soon be gone unless something was done to preserve some wild areas.To which era of the environmental movement does this goal belong?

Accepted Answer

Roosevelt's focus on preserving wild areas through the creation of national forests aligns with the goals of the conservation era of the environmental movement, which emphasized the responsible use and management of natural resources.

Quiz 15: Populations, Cities, and the Environment