29 Jan (TCO 2) Describe the

SOCS325 Environmental Sociology

Week 4 Midterm Exam

Question 1

(TCO 1) Climatologists continue to debate global warming. Which of the following is NOT an argument against the global warming hypothesis?

Climate variations are normal, cyclical processes.

The sun may be putting out more radiation then in the measurable past.

Sunspot activity demonstrates cyclical patterns of activity.

Average temperatures worldwide have actually been dropping slightly.

Question 2

(TCO 2) The realist-constructionist debate in environmental sociology is characterized by differences in materialist versus idealist explanations of social life. Which of the following distinguishes a constructionist perspective on environment problems?

Environmental problems need to be understood in terms of the threats posed by society’s current ecological relations.

There is no difference between the realist and constructionist approaches to environmental problems-they are in agreement.

The way we conceptualize and define environmental problems is a key focus.

Constructionists do not believe that we have environmental problems, rather the concerns are all constructed by alarmists.

Question 3

(TCO 3) Environmental goods and environmental bads are:

on the whole, evenly distributed among the peoples of the earth.

disproportionately distributed so that the middle-class must foot the bill.

unevenly distributed so that those with the least power get the most pollution.

distributed in a way that those who gain the most benefit also experience the most cost.

Question 4

(TCO 4) According to the economist Fred Hirsch, a “positional good” is a good or commodity:

that places you in a high status position relative to those who don’t possess it.

that is desirable because of short supply or limited access.

that is desirable because it has a high price tag.

All of the above

Question 5

(TCO 5) Although we know that money can’t buy happiness, research in Britain and the United States suggests that:

unskilled and partly skilled workers at the bottom of the pay scale are happier than other workers.

skilled manual workers from lower middle pay scale are happier than better-paid, nonmanual professional workers.

middle-class workers are happier than their wealthy counterparts.

the wealthy express the least level of happiness with their standard of living.

Question 6

(TCO 6) According to your text, what percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions come from automobiles?

10%

20%

27%

52%

Question 7

(TCO 7) Amartya Sen argues that famine is the result of:

drought.

pestilence.

lack of money to buy food.

the breakdown in food entitlement systems.

Question 8

(TCO 7) Which of the following does Sen claim will NOT insure food availability?

Dependable food imports

Land reform

Steady employment

Democracy

Question 9

(TCO 3) What, according to your text, is the most erosive force on the planet?

Wind and rain

Toxic chemicals

Animal grazing

Human development

Question 10

(TCO 5) The story of the National City Line (NCL) demonstrates:

the obvious superiority of buses to electric streetcars.

the limitations of streetcars for inter-urban transportation.

a reasonable corporate strategy to develop a market.

the role played by powerful lobbies to ensure the continuous flow of hidden subsidies.

(TCO 1) What environmental threats and issues does environmental sociology and environmental sociologists try to solve? List some. Which are short-term and long-term issues? Pick one of these threats and or issues and describe how you would try to solve it as an environmental sociologist.

(TCO 2) Describe the environments impact on race, poverty, and disempowerment. Explain how this impacts human inequality and how it creates a community of haves and have nots. Compare and contrast some ways you would solve some of these issues of inequality.

(TCO 4) Describe what materialism is and how someone can be materialistic. Give a few detailed examples. Identify why environmental sociologists are so interested in studying materialism. What are some ways our society can be less materialistic? What are some of the positives and negatives of materialism?

(TCO 6) Describe green technology’s impact on the global economy and environment. How is green technology being used worldwide in our society? Compare and contrast the pros and cons of green technology.

TCO 7) Given the relationship between population growth and environmental impacts, assess resource utilization theories and population size while examining the effects of this relationship on debt. How does this relate to poverty and hunger? Also, describe how this relates to environmental racism and global inequality.