Question 1

Rural areas in the United States have seen their populations decline because of:

Accepted Answer

Rural areas in the United States have seen their populations decline primarily because of lack of opportunities for young people. Many young people move to urban areas in search of better job prospects and educational opportunities, leading to an aging population and a decline in rural economies. While poverty rates may play a role, it is not the main reason for population decline in rural areas. Growth in farming industries may even attract people to certain rural areas, so it cannot be a generalized reason for population decline. Too many government services is not a reason for population decline in rural areas.

Question 2

According to the ecological approach, the development of urban areas can be understood as similar to:

Accepted Answer

The ecological approach considers urban areas as complex ecosystems with interconnected components and processes, similar to those found in the natural world. This perspective emphasizes the importance of understanding and preserving the balance and functioning of urban ecosystems, and the relationships between human societies and the natural environment.

Question 3

According to William Julius Wilson, the growth of an urban underclass is largely due to:

Accepted Answer

William Julius Wilson argues that the growth of the urban underclass is due to blue-collar manufacturing industries moving out of urban areas, which has led to a decline in job opportunities and economic instability for urban minorities.

Question 4

Britain was the first country to undergo industrialization, which generated ________, the movement of population from the countryside into towns and cities.

Accepted Answer

Industrialization in Britain spurred the movement of people from rural areas to urban centers, which is known as urbanization. Metropolization refers specifically to the growth and dominance of metropolitan areas, while megalomania refers to an obsession with power and grandeur. Conurbation refers to the merging of multiple urban areas into one large entity.

Question 5

Sandra lives in the heart of a large city. Lately, there have been robberies on several of the streets near where Sandra lives but none on her street. Sandra and her neighbors believe that they have not seen any crime on their street because they know each other, notice when strangers or strange cars are in the neighborhood, and have a mix of old retired couples and young families who use the neighborhood at different times of the day. Jane Jacobs would see this as an example of:

Accepted Answer

Sandra's neighborhood is an example of "eyes and ears on the street" because the residents are actively observing their surroundings and looking out for each other, which can help deter crime.

Question 6

Several distinct central cities and counties, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, and San Bernardino, merge together to form the Greater Los Angeles Area, which is an unbroken urban environment known as:

Accepted Answer

The term "conurbation" refers to an unbroken urban environment that is created by the merging of multiple central cities and their surrounding counties. The Greater Los Angeles Area fits this definition as it consists of multiple cities and counties that have merged together to create a continuous urban landscape. While "megalopolis" and "metropolis" are also commonly used to describe large urban areas, they do not specifically denote the merging of multiple cities and counties to create a single urban environment. "Urbanization" refers to the process of an area becoming more urban, but it does not necessarily imply the merging of multiple cities and counties.

Question 7

Although more racial and ethnic minorities are moving to the suburbs, the suburbs remain largely white. Only ________ of the suburban population was nonwhite in 2010.

Accepted Answer

In 2010, approximately 35 percent of the suburban population was nonwhite, reflecting the increasing diversity in suburban areas, though they remained predominantly white.

Question 8

When Jorge first moved to Chicago from his small, rural town in California, he found it hard to meet new people. Back home in his small town, people often said hello to each other on the street, and he knew the name of most of the people who lived in his town. However, in Chicago people rarely made eye contact with him on the street. According to Louis Wirth, Jorge was experiencing:

Accepted Answer

Jorge was experiencing the urban interaction problem, which is a phenomenon observed in large cities where people are less likely to interact with strangers or make eye contact due to the overwhelming number of people and the diversity of backgrounds. This can create a sense of isolation for newcomers like Jorge who are used to more social interaction in their hometowns.

Question 9

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Waukee, an area located outside Iowa's capital city of Des Moines, is 98.17 percent white. If suburbs are increasingly becoming "majority minority," what explains Waukee's demographics?

Accepted Answer

Waukee is an exurb, which means that it is located outside of the suburbs and is less likely to experience the same patterns of demographic change as areas closer to the urban center. Being an exurb puts Waukee at an advantage in terms of maintaining a majority white population.

Question 10

According to sociologists who use ________, cities tend to develop in response to advantageous features of the environment. For example, cities develop on the shores of rivers, on fertile plains, and at the intersections of trading routes.

Accepted Answer

The ecological approach to urban analysis suggests that cities develop in response to advantageous features of the environment, such as rivers, plains, and trade routes. The other options, such as the collective-consumption theory of urban development and gentrification analysis, focus on different aspects of urban development and do not specifically address the relationship between cities and the environment. The created-environment approach is a valid approach to urban analysis, but it is not a commonly used term in sociology.

Question 11

Manuel Castells emphasized ________, such as the gay community in San Francisco, as an important factor in urban development.

Accepted Answer

Manuel Castells emphasized underprivileged groups as an important factor in urban development, specifically highlighting the gay community in San Francisco as an example. Castells argued that these marginalized groups often bring about social and cultural changes that ultimately shape the urban landscape.

Question 12

In most ancient cities:

Accepted Answer

The elite and ruling class in ancient cities usually lived in the city center, as it was seen as a sign of wealth and power. They would build their homes and palaces there, surrounded by important government buildings, temples, and public spaces.

Question 13

The Chicago School focused on cities as ________; however, most contemporary theory and research in urban sociology focus on cities as ________.

Accepted Answer

The Chicago School viewed cities as natural formations, evolving organically due to various social and ecological processes. In contrast, contemporary urban sociology often sees cities as created environments, shaped by human design, planning, and intervention.

Question 14

With the support of government programs, the rapid increase of suburbanization in the United States occurred in the:

Accepted Answer

The years following World War II saw a significant increase in government programs and policies that supported suburbanization in the United States. These included initiatives such as the GI Bill which provided low-interest home loans and other benefits to veterans, and the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 which funded the construction of new highways and infrastructure projects that made suburban living more accessible. As a result, the 1950s and 1960s saw a rapid increase in population growth and development in the suburbs.

Question 15

Urban ecology emphasizes the ________ of city areas, whereby the specialized groups on which people depend are located in the city centers.

Accepted Answer

Urban ecology emphasizes the interdependence of city areas, meaning that different specialized groups on which people depend are located in the city centers and need to work together for the overall functioning of the city. Segregation, independence and division would suggest a lack of interaction and cooperation between different groups and areas within the city, which is not the focus of urban ecology.

Question 16

Most of the people leaving rural areas represent:

Accepted Answer

The younger population is more likely to leave rural areas in search of job opportunities, higher education, and a different lifestyle. The older population may prefer to stay in familiar surroundings and have established connections in the community. The options C and D are not accurate criteria for people leaving rural areas.

Question 17

According to David Harvey, cities as well as suburbs can be understood as ________ humans established to serve their needs.

Accepted Answer

According to David Harvey, cities and suburbs are created environments that serve the needs of humans.

Question 18

According to David Harvey and Manuel Castells, the most important factors that affect cities are:

Accepted Answer

David Harvey and Manuel Castells argue that government decisions and social movements are the most important factors that affect cities. While natural growth and development, ecological processes, size and shape are all relevant, Harvey and Castells focus on the political and social forces that shape urban areas. They believe that a city's development is shaped by government policies and their ability to respond to the needs and demands of the people who live there. Social movements, such as those advocating for housing or environmental justice, also play an important role in shaping urban areas.

Question 19

Sociologists refer to a "city of cities" as:

Accepted Answer

Sociologists refer to a "city of cities" as a megalopolis, which is a large, interconnected urban region that includes multiple cities and their surrounding suburbs. Examples include the BosWash corridor on the East Coast of the United States and the Taiheiyō Belt in Japan.

Question 20

Suburbanization is:

Accepted Answer

Suburbanization is the process of significant development and settlement of suburbs or towns located around cities. This development results in the expansion of urban areas into previously rural or undeveloped land. It typically involves the construction of new housing or commercial buildings, as well as the creation of transportation infrastructure to connect these areas to the city center.

Quiz 15: Urbanization, Population, and the Environment