Exam 17: Sociology and the Environment

Rebecca is hurriedly packing up her house because the new owners want to move in before the end of the month.As she is cleaning up the basement,she finds a dozen old,half-filled cans of paint.Although Rebecca regularly recycles,she throws the paint cans into garbage bags rather than taking them to a toxic waste site.Which concept would explain Rebecca's actions?

Lyn grew up in a fishing town in Newfoundland with her father and brothers working long hours in the fish-canning factory.She moved with her family to Alberta in 1993,in order for her father and brothers to find work.What would explain this cross-country move?

One leading proponent of ecological balance for human survival maintains that increasing economic growth cannot be maintained,and that downsizing all human activity is necessary in order to let other species survive.Which concept is this perspective in contrast to?

Which movement resulted from the recognition that people in subordinate positions are exposed to more and greater environmental risk factors than are experienced by people occupying dominant positions?

It has been said that most Canadians will recycle,purchase "green" products,and act positively toward the environment,but only to the extent that such action does not require any real sacrifice in terms of time or money.Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer,incorporating concepts from the chapter.

Which of the following would you find as members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?

In the ongoing "climate change debates," which group is least likely to be identified as having an interest in overemphasizing the need for global action on climate change?

When growing up,Randy was always being told to turn off the lights when he left the room and he copied this practice with his own children.Then Randy and Sharon and their kids moved into their custom designed home,replete with recessed energy-efficient LED lighting throughout.After a few months,turning off the lights in unoccupied rooms was no longer a family practice.Which concept would best explain this change of attitude and behaviour?

In a poll taken during the 2008-2009 recession,what percentage of Canadians believed that environmental issues were not garnering the necessary attention?

What is the "tragedy of the commons" a reference to?

What is greenwashing?

According to cultural ecofeminists,what biases in Western culture are responsible for environmental issues?

In 1982,AIDS went from being a rare disease affecting a small,predominantly homosexual,population to a world-wide epidemic.Which term most accurately reflects this phenomenon?

What term is used to denote the practice of a business overstating its commitment to environmental responsibility?

Who was the author of Silent Spring?

Lorraine studied a group of people living at the edge of an expanding swamp.She wanted to know if people's actions were influenced by the swamp and/or if they would work to alter the swamp itself (e.g. ,draining the land).Which research field is Lorraine working in?

What is corporate greenwashing? Why would companies be inclined to practise it?

In a conversation with her friends,Dana was asked to give an example of an environmental tipping point.Which of the following would she offer?

The citizens of Nimbi were actively involved in environmental movements throughout the decade in which the country was recording ever-increasing levels of economic growth.Then a recession hit,and their interest and participation severely declined.What reason could be given to account for this?

Which country was the first in the world to ban bisphenol A from baby bottles?