Question 1

What does the fact that environmental issues can be defined as problematic or benign suggest?

Accepted Answer

The fact that environmental issues can be defined as problematic or benign suggests that there is disagreement or dispute over their nature and severity, making them contested phenomena.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes changes in research and development spending that took place during the last 40 years of the twentieth century?

Accepted Answer

According to the passage, spending on research and development (R&D) tripled during the last 40 years of the twentieth century.

Question 3

Which of the following best explains the fact that public belief that global warming posed a real threat faltered, despite evidence of global warming in droughts, crop failures, the collapse of fish stocks, and violent storms during the 1990s?

Accepted Answer

The fossil fuel industry is known to have mounted a public relations campaign to cast doubt on the legitimacy of global warming, which can be a key factor in the public's perception of the issue. The other options are not supported by the given information in the question.

Question 4

Kadina has just begun to do her doctoral research in biogenetics at a large university. Her grandfather was a biochemist who spent his entire career teaching and doing research at a university, and they have been comparing their experiences regarding the funding of scientific research in universities. Which of the following are they most likely to find as the greatest difference in that area?

Accepted Answer

The greatest difference they are likely to find is that industry funding has become far more important for scientific research today compared to 40 years ago. This shift reflects the increasing collaboration between academia and industry, where private companies fund research that could lead to profitable technologies or products.

Question 5

According to the textbook, which of the following is generated by the dramatic increase in the military and large corporations providing economic lures to attract researchers to commit to specific research projects?

Accepted Answer

The dramatic increase in military and large corporations' involvement in funding research projects often raises concerns about the potential risks such developments might pose to humans, as these entities may prioritize their specific interests over broader ethical considerations.

Question 6

Monique is a theoretical mathematician at a large university. Which of the following is most likely to motivate her research work at the university?

Accepted Answer

Personal interest in the development of the field is most likely to motivate Monique's research work as a theoretical mathematician. Theoretical mathematicians are driven by curiosity, fascination with abstract concepts and the desire to solve complex problems. Personal profit, increased fame, and political connections are not relevant factors in motivating research work in theoretical mathematics.

Question 7

What does the gradual increase in the average surface temperature of the earth reflect?

Accepted Answer

The gradual increase in the average surface temperature of the earth reflects the increased CO2 levels. This is due to the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, resulting in the trapping of heat and the warming of the planet.

Question 8

What does the increased use of fossil fuels, especially in industry, cause?

Accepted Answer

The increased use of fossil fuels, especially in industry, leads to the emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This causes the Earth's temperature to gradually rise, leading to global warming.

Question 9

Lucas is concerned about the consequences of global warming on some of Canada's most vulnerable communities. Of the following people or regions in Canada, which are most vulnerable to the negative consequences of global warming?

Accepted Answer

Inuit communities in the far North are most vulnerable to the negative consequences of global warming as they are already experiencing the effects of melting permafrost, rising sea levels, and changes in wildlife patterns, which directly threaten their traditional way of life and food security. The other options may also be impacted by global warming, but they are not as vulnerable as Inuit communities in the far North.

Question 10

What environmental damage is caused by the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere resulting in an increase in the amount of solar radiation entering the Earth's atmosphere while trapping heat in the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

The accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere results in an increase in the amount of solar radiation entering the Earth's atmosphere, while trapping heat in the atmosphere, leading to an increase in the Earth's average temperature. This effect is known as global warming, and it has significant consequences for the environment, including melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and more frequent and intense weather events.

Question 11

The fact that environmental problems affect different categories of people with varying degrees of hardship is evidence of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The fact that environmental problems affect different categories of people with varying degrees of hardship indicates that these problems are socially distributed. This means that certain social groups, such as low-income or minority communities, may be disproportionately impacted by environmental issues due to factors such as unequal access to resources and information. This highlights the importance of addressing environmental problems from a social justice perspective to ensure that all individuals and communities are able to live in a healthy and sustainable environment. Choices A, B, and C do not accurately reflect the relationship between environmental problems and their impact on different groups of people.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes changes in the number of research scientists in North America during the twentieth century?

Accepted Answer

The number of research scientists in North America saw a significant increase during the twentieth century, growing by a factor of a hundred. This reflects the massive expansion in scientific research and development activities during this period.

Question 13

According to the text, which of the following most significantly shapes the direction and priorities of research in universities?

Accepted Answer

The text states that "the lure of commercial success is a powerful force shaping the direction and priorities of research in universities," indicating that commercial interests have a significant impact on research direction and priorities. The other options - ethical considerations, whether the country is at war, and team leaders - are not presented as being as influential on research direction and priorities as commercial interests.

Question 14

Members of the Dene Nation were hired to transport uranium from the first uranium mine trekking it overland in burlap bags. Information about the dangers of exposure to uranium was withheld and no protective equipment was provided. What do sociologists call this?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of environmental racism, as the Dene Nation members were not provided with protective equipment or informed of the dangers of exposure to uranium during their work in transporting it. They were put at risk due to their racial and cultural identity.

Question 15

According to the textbook's discussion regarding who most opposes the information about the dangers of global warming, which of the following is a reasonable conclusion?

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that corporations and industries that profit from activities contributing to global warming are most likely to oppose the information about its dangers, as they fear it could result in regulations or decreased profits.

Question 16

According to the text, Thomas Edison's products are the outcome of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, Thomas Edison's products...

Question 17

Which of the following describes changes to government funding support for research and development?

Accepted Answer

The statement "It has dropped as much as industry's funding support has increased" indicates that government funding support for research and development has decreased in proportion to the increase in industry funding support. This suggests that the two sources of funding are now more evenly matched, but not necessarily equal. Option A is incorrect because it suggests that the government's share of funding is now much smaller than before. Option B is incorrect because it implies that government funding now matches industrial funding, which is not supported by the statement. Option D is incorrect because it suggests that industrial backing has been completely eliminated, which is not mentioned in the statement.

Question 18

What do scientists predict will occur if the polar ice caps continue to melt at the current rate?

Accepted Answer

Scientists predict that if the polar ice caps continue to melt at the current rate, more water will enter the oceans and threaten heavily populated coastal countries with devastating floods. This is due to the fact that melting ice sheets contribute to global sea level rise.

Question 19

Increases in evaporated water have produced bigger storms, more precipitation, more flooding, and more soil erosion. Which of the following best describes the consequences of these environmental changes?

Accepted Answer

The consequences of bigger storms, more precipitation, more flooding, and more soil erosion are often devastating for people, leading to suffering and sometimes even death.

Question 20

Werner works for an organization that covers the costs of the majority of new research and development of technological applications today. What type of organization does he work for?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Werner works for an organization that covers...

Quiz 13: Technology, the Environment, and Social Movements