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Reading Comprehension Quiz (E.O. Wilson, “The Future of Life”)

Reading Comprehension Quiz

E.O. Wilson, “The Future of Life”

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

Question What does Wilson mean by this line: “But there is a problem: the key elements of natural capital, Earth’s arable land, ground water, forests, marine fisheries, and petroleum, are ultimately finite and not subject to proportionate capital growth”?

1. What does Wilson mean by this line: “But there is a problem: the key elements of natural capital, Earth’s arable land, ground water, forests, marine fisheries, and petroleum, are ultimately finite and not subject to proportionate capital growth”?

The resources of the Earth cannot be managed in the same way as money.

Capital made from the use of natural production is superior to capital collected from man-made products.

Economics and environmental management need not be as connected as they currently are.

Capitalists are destroying the land.

Question What is causing resentment and fanaticism against the strongest nations?

2. What is causing resentment and fanaticism against the strongest nations?

natural resources

political uncertainty

economic prosperity

totalitarianism

Question What does Wilson say about the extinction of natural ecosystems and species currently?

3. What does Wilson say about the extinction of natural ecosystems and species currently?

They can be changed and reversed in our lifetimes.

The damage was caused by socialist countries like the failed Soviet Union.

Through genetic manipulation, humans will be able to repair the world.

They cannot be repaired within a period of time that has meaning for the human mind.

Question How does Wilson suggest humans fix this biological impoverishment?

4. How does Wilson suggest humans fix this biological impoverishment?

Humans must invest more heavily in natural product development.

Humans must develop an ethical code that incorporates elements of capitalism and environmentalism.

Humans must not consume any more of the resources of the earth without replacing them with something of equal natural value.

All of the above.

Question Wilson claims that everyone has ethic.

5. Wilson claims that everyone has _____ ethic.

moral

work

business

None of the above.

Question Wilson presents two stereotypes of people in conflict in the environmental debate. Who does he blame for the continuation of these stereotypes?

6. Wilson presents two stereotypes of people in conflict in the environmental debate. Who does he blame for the continuation of these stereotypes?

economists

conservatives

politicians

journalists

Question Wilson suggests that a change of heart regarding the environment will occur when people do what?

7. Wilson suggests that a change of heart regarding the environment will occur when people do what?

look beyond themselves and see future generations

begin to see the effects of the pollution on their personal investments

become better educated

urge Congress to pass environmental laws

Question According to Wilson, why can’t the “juggernaut of technology-based capitalism” be stopped?

8. According to Wilson, why can’t the “juggernaut of technology-based capitalism” be stopped?

Corporate interests are too closely aligned with it.

National economies are irreversibly based on it.

The poor of developing countries hope to gain material wealth from it.

Lazy Americans see no real need to stop it.