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Reading Comprehension Quiz (Bill McKibben, “The End of Nature”)

Reading Comprehension Quiz

Bill McKibben, “The End of Nature”

Read “The End of Nature” and check your comprehension by answering the following questions. Click the submit button when finished.

Question What are the three reasons that McKibben says he is pessimistic “about the chances that we will dramatically alter our ways”?

1. What are the three reasons that McKibben says he is pessimistic “about the chances that we will dramatically alter our ways”?

poverty, soaring population, and apathy

apathy, poverty, and cost of living

soaring population, lack of knowledge, and poverty

poverty, affluence, and soaring population

Question What is one way that people living in Los Angeles are changing the way they interact with the environment?

2. What is one way that people living in Los Angeles are changing the way they interact with the environment?

more photovoltaic systems on their roofs.

more eco-friendly cars.

fewer lawns to water.

None of the above.

Question What river does McKibben mention in connection to Edward Abbey?

3. What river does McKibben mention in connection to Edward Abbey?

the Mississippi

the Rio Grande

the Colorado

the Snake River

Question The tone of this essay is

4. The tone of this essay is

resigned

angry

hopeful

None of the above.

Question In what country is the La Grande River located?

5. In what country is the La Grande River located?

United States

Mexico

France

Canada

Question Why does McKibben love the winter?

6. Why does McKibben love the winter?

It is harder to see what is sick and dying in nature.

He likes the quiet stillness of nature during this time.

He is an avid cross-country skier.

It is during this time that he does his best thinking.

Question Why does McKibben say Thoreau will soon not make sense?

7. Why does McKibben say Thoreau will soon not make sense?

The world that Thoreau inhabited is fading due to man’s constant manipulation.

Climate change is quickly transforming the world around us.

During Thoreau’s time, there were still places on the earth that were not mapped and understood: places that were natural and mysterious.

All of the above.

Question McKibben quotes Walter Truett Anderson: “We find now that the human predicament is not quite so devoid of inherent purpose after all. To be caretakers of a planet, custodians of all its life forms and shapers of its (and our own) future is certainly purpose enough.” How does McKibben feel about this idea of humans as caretakers of the planet?

8. McKibben quotes Walter Truett Anderson: “We find now that the human predicament is not quite so devoid of inherent purpose after all. To be caretakers of a planet, custodians of all its life forms and shapers of its (and our own) future is certainly purpose enough.” How does McKibben feel about this idea of humans as caretakers of the planet?

It would solve the problems he has been writing about.

It depresses him deeply.

It angers him enough to want to bomb Glen Canyon Dam.

All of the above.