Question 1

The attempt to reconcile global economic development with protections for the environment is called

Accepted Answer

The concept of sustainable development refers to integrating economic growth with environmental protection and social well-being. It aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Therefore, the attempt to reconcile global economic development with protections for the environment is called sustainable development.

Question 2

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 placement of environmental hazards and pollution in areas predominantly inhabited by people of color and low-income communities. This is often the result of systemic and institutionalized discrimination and has negative impacts on the health and well-being of these communities.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The Green Party has made social justice, community-based economics, feminism, and diversity central to its platform.

Question 4

Flint,Michigan,which is dealing with contaminated water,is a majority African American city.Flint,Michigan,has been pointed to as an example of

Accepted Answer

Flint, Michigan is often cited as an example of environmental racism, as the majority African American city was subject to contaminated water due to decisions made by environmental agencies and local government officials that disproportionately impacted people of color. This illustrates the intersection between race and environmental justice, as marginalized communities are often hit hardest by environmental issues.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Poor and minority communities are more likely to live in areas with high levels of pollution due to a variety of factors such as living near industrial sites or highways. They may also have less access to resources and political power to advocate for cleaner environments.

Question 6

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

The answer of The Environmental Defense Fund hires scientists,economists,and lawyers...

Question 7

Although Los Angeles is infamous for its air pollution and smog,there are many parts of Los Angeles where the air is quite nice,especially in the mountains and by the sea.However,the people who live in these places are disproportionately white; the people who live in the places with the worst air quality are disproportionately likely to be racial and ethnic minorities.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This situation is an example of environmental racism, which refers to the disproportionate exposure of environmental hazards to minority communities. While sustainable development and conservation efforts can also impact air quality, they do not directly address the issue of racial and ethnic disparities in exposure to pollutants. Environmental justice, however, directly addresses this issue and aims to ensure fair treatment and involvement of all people in the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Question 8

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 suggests that it values grassroots organizing and action at the local level, which aligns with the principles of grassroots environmentalism.

Question 9

What is a person reducing if he or she starts taking public transportation and riding a bicycle?

Accepted Answer

Taking public transportation and riding a bicycle helps reduce a person's ecological footprint, as these modes of transportation are more environmentally friendly than driving a car.

Question 10

Environmental racism occurs when

Accepted Answer

Environmental racism refers to situations where environmental policies, practices, or procedures have a negative impact on people based on their race. This can include the siting of toxic waste facilities, landfills, or other hazardous operations near communities with higher percentages of racial minorities. It can also involve the unequal distribution of environmental benefits, such as access to parks or clean air, among different racial groups. A and B are not examples of environmental racism, and D is a reference to the concept of human exceptionalism, which is not directly related to environmental racism.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin, is credited with organizing the first Earth Day in 1970. Rachel Carson was a pioneering environmentalist and author, but did not organize Earth Day. Ralph Nader is a consumer advocate known for his work on automobile safety and other issues, but was not directly involved in Earth Day. Iona Frisbee is not a known environmental activist.

Question 12

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.This is a classic example of

Accepted Answer

The situation described in the question is a clear example of NIMBY (Not In My Backyard), which refers to the phenomenon of people opposing the establishment of certain facilities, such as nuclear waste storage, in their local area, despite recognizing the general need for such facilities. It reflects the idea that people are not necessarily opposed to the concept of nuclear waste storage, but simply do not want it to occur in their immediate vicinity.

Question 13

An estimate of the land and water area that is required to produce all of the goods that an individual consumes and to assimilate all of the waste that he or she produces is called

Accepted Answer

An estimate of the land and water area that is required to produce all of the goods that an individual consumes and to assimilate all of the waste that he or she produces is called an ecological footprint.

Question 14

In this ethnography Evicted,Mathew Desmond found that a consequence of not being able to find affordable housing is that getting a job,going to school,and staying healthy become very difficult.

Accepted Answer

Mathew Desmond's findings in Evicted suggest that not being able to find affordable housing can make it difficult to pursue education and employment opportunities, and can negatively impact one's overall health.

Question 15

Climate change causes more severe droughts; stronger and more prevalent hurricanes,tornadoes,and cyclones; and more rain and flooding.

Accepted Answer

Climate change leads to more extreme weather events, including droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Warmer ocean temperatures and higher atmospheric moisture contribute to the intensity and frequency of these events.

Question 16

An industry dumps waste in an area adjacent to where members of racial and ethnic minorities reside.What is this practice called?

Accepted Answer

This practice is called environmental racism, which refers to the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on people of color or low-income communities. It is a form of discrimination based on race and socioeconomic status.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

The grassroots environmentalism era was marked by a focus on citizen participation and change at the local level. It emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, as environmental issues gained national attention, and often involved grassroots organizing and advocacy by local communities.

Question 18

One of the major problems with slowing greenhouse gas emissions lies in the developing world where many countries are just now starting to burn fossil fuels at the same rate as the industrialized world.Aside from the pollution produced,this is also a problem because there is not enough oil left for the world to burn it at its current rate.To solve this problem,many believe that we need

Accepted Answer

Sustainable development focuses on balancing economic growth with environmental preservation, and is therefore more appropriate for addressing the issue of developing countries increasing their use of fossil fuels. Environmental racism (A) is not a solution as it involves discriminatory practices, ecological footprints (B) is more of a tool for measuring environmental impact, and a return to feudalism (C) is not a viable option for modern society.

Question 19

The Environmental Protection Agency has a department with a mandate to work for the "fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race,color,national origin,or income with respect to the development,implementation,and enforcement of environmental laws,regulations,and policies." What is this department MOST likely to be called based on your reading in Chapter 15?

Accepted Answer

The department that is mandated to work for fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies is likely to be the Environmental Justice Department.

Question 20

The Flint,Michigan,water crisis involved dangerously high levels of nitrogen.

Accepted Answer

The Flint, Michigan water crisis involved dangerously high levels of lead.

Quiz 15: Populations,Cities,and the Environment