SOC 200 Population, Urbanization, and Environment.

Why do we have two words for a big city: metropolis and megalopolis?

A metropolis is just one city while a megalopolis includes many different cities.

Bill wants to increase his herd of cattle on his farm. Right now, he his herd numbers around 100, and he has 100 acres of his farm set aside for their pasture. What would a sociologist suggest so that his farm, which feeds many in his town and county, can continue to function?

Bill should examine the carrying capacity of his lands and consider setting aside more land if he wants to increase his herd.

A sociologist is studying how the population of certain countries influences and affects the population and environment of other neighboring countries. This sociologist is most likely a:

Structural functionalist

If we consider the concentric zone model, which is a conflict theorist's critique?

The model fails to show the gentrification of neighborhoods as certain classes start to take over cities.

Anil has noticed that infertility has been affecting many of his intergenerational friends and family. Based on this observation, Anil is writing his senior thesis on the effects that certain cities, water quality, and hormones might have on his friends. Anil will most likely approach his findings and paper using which theory?

Zero population growth theory

Conflict theory (Harvey)

-Cities are not natural -way cities are built, developed, and changed is because of: profit and motivation

Human Ecology (functionalist)

-Nature balance with humans (cities) and the natural environment - cities develop predictably -Concentric circle pattern

Melissa has been working to develop drought-resistance seeds that require little water to grow and which produce grain. She wants to send these to arid parts of the world, where conventional grain is not easy (or even impossible) to grow to improve nutrition for the people in those countries. In sociological terms, Melissa most likely ascribes to:

Cornucopian theory

Paris has been studying the demography of the United Kingdom. The U.K. is very similar to the United States or Sweden in that it is industrialized, has relatively long life expectancy, and infant mortality is low. Which stage in the Demographic Transition Theory would the U.K. fall into?

Stage 4

What is one way the people of the United States, and the world, are reaching and abusing the Earth's carrying capacity?

We show little concern about contaminating water with our garbage and waste.

Three things are important for the formation and sustentation of a city. Which of the below options is NOT one of them?

Well constructed buildings

Malthusian theory

carrying capacity -war famine, disease 1. Medicine 2. Contraception 3. Food technology

Josh sits in his kitchen in the city projects trying to sip his coffee while inhaling the nauseating fumes wafting from the town dump that was relocated to within a mile of his home. He desperately wishes he could move, but he works two jobs just to make ends meet for his family. Josh lives in the poorer part of town; the part that is greatly overlooked by local government officials. What might a sociologist call this phenomenon?

environmental racism