Contemporary Overview: Economics, Technology, and Security – Flashcards
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The United States decides it wants to encourage citizens to buy televisions that are made in America, so it decides to set a limit on the number of televisions that can be imported from China and Japan. This limit is an example of a __________.
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-quota
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When imported goods grow cheaper in the US, it is a sign that the value of the dollar is likely __________.
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-rising
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Why are quotas an example of protectionism?
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-Quotas create trade barriers by limiting imports
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When countries create tariffs, they __________.
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-set taxes on imported goods
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Exchange rates show the value of one country's currency in relation to other countries'__________.
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-currencies
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Which of the following situations would most likely occur if the dollar's exchange value dropped in relation to the Japanese yen?
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-Imported Japanese goods would become more expensive.
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Countries create quotas and tariffs in order to increase the volume of trade with their neighbors.
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-False
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The ability to make a product cheaply would encourage a country to produce and export it
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-True
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Trade barriers discourage consumers from buying imported goods because barriers can __________.
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-increase the price of imports
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The United States imports thousands of tons of sugar each year from Brazil. If the US placed a quota on importing sugar from Brazil, it would be __________.
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-limiting the amount of Brazilian sugar that can be imported
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Which of the following situations would encourage a country to import a good like computers?
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-The country is unwilling or unable to produce computers domestically.
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Which of the following phrases BEST defines the term export?
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-to send a product to another country
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Which of the following phrases BEST defines the word import?
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-to obtain a product from another country
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Based on the charts, did the value of the US dollar increase or decrease during these months?
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-the US dollar's exchange value increased
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Why would countries be willing to place barriers on trade? Explain two factors that might encourage a country to place quotas and tariffs on imported goods.
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-Countries might create quotas, tariffs, and other trade barriers to protect their own industries.A country may realize that an important industry is struggling because foreign competitors can produce goods more cheaply for import.
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Which of the following results is NOT a way that trade can benefit all parties involved?
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-Trade can keep countries from specializing in producing certain goods.
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Countries need the right resources to create products. Which of the following factors is NOT a resource that a country might need in order to produce something to trade?
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-having a low standard of living
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When imported goods grow cheaper in the US, it is a sign that the value of the dollar is likely __________.
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-rising
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NAFTA is a 1994 __________ between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
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-free trade agreement
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The British pound, the yen, and the euro are examples of __________.
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-currencies
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When the US dollar grows more valuable in relation to the euro, it has also grown more valuable in relation to every other currency.
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-false
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Fiber optics is an example of a revolution in __________ technology.
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-communications
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Westernization is best described as the process of cultures being influenced by __________.
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-European and American cultures
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The United States depends on importing oil because it __________.
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-does not produce enough to meet its own demands
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When Polynesia was settled, __________ became a key to survival because each island had different resources.
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-long-distance trade
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All of the following are impacts of modern information technology EXCEPT:
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-greater costs and lower usage
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One teenager in Egypt and another in China become fans of the same popular music. This scenario is best described as an example of __________ in action.
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-globalization
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Each year, the US imports billions of barrels of oil from other countries. At the same time, the US exports billions of dollars worth of agricultural products to other countries. How is this situation an example of economic interdependence?
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-Countries specialize in creating certain products, and this is often based on the resources they have available. In this situation, the US specializes in creating agricultural products.Both sides are economically interdependent because they must depend on each other to meet their needs.
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The United States is not economically dependent on other countries for __________ because it specializes in producing them affordably.
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-agricultural products
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In a short paragraph, explain how modern technologies have changed the way we communicate. How do modern technologies change the amount of time it takes to communicate?
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-Technologies like fiber optics have helped to create instantaneous communication worldwide. Now, new technologies help information to spread in seconds. This new communication speed affects trade, business, and culture.
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When using early sea and land trade routes like the Silk Road, traders often took __________ to bring products around the world.
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-years
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Increases in transportation time and shipping costs have caused trade to decrease.
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-False
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Economic interdependence has helped the world become more globalized.
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-True
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Specialization encourages countries to be economically interdependent.
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-True
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When countries lose their unique qualities as globalization takes place, it is best described as a loss of __________ .
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-cultural diversity
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The time it takes to transport goods has __________ over time, causing trade to __________.
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-decreased . . . increase
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Which of the following issues is a negative consequence of globalization?
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-the loss of cultural diversity
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laser
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-concentrated beam of light
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Radiation is a
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-byproduct of atomic energy
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Urbanization refers to
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-migration from country to city.
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Space exploration began in the United States.
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-False
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Cloning is based on copying DNA.
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-True
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Sputnik was the world's first ____________.
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-satellite
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The "Chunnel" was meant to connect ___________.
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-Britain and France
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The Chunnel is a tunnel for automobiles and trains that runs beneath the
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-English Channel.
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Who was Yury Gagarian?
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-He was the first man in space.
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Too many fish being caught in a single season can lead to __________.
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-fishery collapse
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Africa experiences a high level of air pollution because it has more old vehicles on the road than industrialized regions do. Africa experiences a high level of air pollution because it has more old vehicles on the road than industrialized regions do.
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-True
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Which of the following statements best characterizes the risk of ground-level ozone and air pollution?
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-It is very harmful to human health.
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Which atmospheric gas is primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect?
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-carbon dioxide (CO2)
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Globally, sea levels have risen by _____ inches over the past 100 years.
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-7
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The term "global warming" refers to __________.
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-increased average temperatures on the Earth's surface
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Describe two environmental impacts of urbanization in Latin America.
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-Two environmental impacts of urbanization in Latin America are increased air pollution and poor sanitation systems.
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Explain how water pollution affects marine ecosystems
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-Industrial, agricultural, and municipal runoffs pollute coastal areas, creating dead zones for fish.
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Which of the following factors is a major reason for the high risk of drought in Africa?
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-Africa has been getting less rainfall since 1968.
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Describe four expected impacts of global warming.
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-changes in extremes: cold areas will get colder, hot areas will get hotter, wet areas will get wetter, and dry areas will get drier. Rain and snow will occur less frequently, but in heavier amounts.
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Which of the following definitions best characterizes the green movement?
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-a movement to implement environmentally sound practices
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Which of the following has contributed the most to the increase of invasive species in Europe?
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-an increase in trade across the continent
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Explain how overpumping leads to water scarcity in coastal areas.
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-Overpumping refers to pumping freshwater and reducing the level of an aquifer. In coastal areas, the lower aquifer is infiltrated with saltwater, eventually increasing the salinity of the aquifer to the point that it is not drinkable.
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Describe the primary environmental challenges facing Latin America in the early 21st century.
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-The primary challenges facing Latin America in the early 21st century are urbanization and deforestation.
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The majority of scientists predict that the rise in global temperature by 2100 will range from __________.
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-2° F to 10° F
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Anoxia, or a lack of oxygen in bodies of water, leads to __________
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-dead zones
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What is the most important concern regarding increased ozone pollution?
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-human health issues
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Which of the following goals is included in the initiatives created by the United Nations Environment Programme?
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-the reduction of carbon emissions by 80% by 2050
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Which of the following regions experienced the greatest impact from deforestation between 1990 and 2010?
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-the Amazon Rainforest of South America
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All of the following are common endemic diseases, except __________
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-smallpox
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Why is a country with a low literacy rate less likely to have access to healthcare?
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-Countries with low literacy rates often have weak economies and weak governments.
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According to the World Health Organization, if a sample of 1,000 deaths from around the world was taken, the majority of deaths would be in __________
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-developing countries
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Partly because of the effects of AIDS on Botswana's adult population, the majority of the country's population is __________.
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-under 20 years old
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A country's wealth has little effect on the health and welfare of that country's population.
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-false
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Access to clean water and sanitation are important factors in a population's general health and well-being.
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-true
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How are the percentages of deaths in middle-income and high-income countries similar?
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- The largest percentages of deaths come from lung cancer, stroke, and heart disease.
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al Qaeda
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-terrorist group
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The World Trade Center attack was carried out with
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-commercial plane
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To prevent further terrorist acts, the U.S. felt it was necessary to
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-end the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
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The September 11, 2001, attacks affected the New York Stock exchange for a few days, but had little large scale impact on the world economy.
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-false
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Which of the following statements accurately describes the organizations involved in the September 11th attacks?
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-The Taliban was supporting and sheltering Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda.
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How was tourism affected by the events of September 11th?
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-It slowed worldwide
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What happened to consumer confidence in America after September 11th?
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-It fell.
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The Taliban did all of the following, except
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-they were closely connected to the Pakistani government.
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A. Philip Randolph was instrumental in which of the following?
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-Fighting against racial discrimination and working to employ African Americans.
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September 11, 2001, was the day that terrorists attacked
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-the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
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The al-Qaeda group is a
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-Muslim terrorist group behind the attack of September 11, 2001.
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What did some devout Muslims fear would happen as the contact between the Middle East and Western society increased?
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-that traditional values and beliefs would be weakened
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terrorist leader behind the attacks on Americans
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-Osama Bin Laden
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Muslim fundamentalists in Afghanistan
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-the Taliban
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How did citizens in the United States respond to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001?
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-People became united and expressed support for the nation.
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This Middle East country has been both the target of and an excuse for Middle East terrorism.
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-Israel
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Although Osama bin Laden was an ally of the United States during the Cold War, he created Al-Qaeda to promote terrorism against western countries. Which of the following choices was not a cause of bin Laden's conflict with western countries?
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-His desire to create a Saudi empire
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One problem with human rights enforcement is
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-cultural differences.
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China has maintained communist rule while
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-introducing a free market economy.
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted in response to the horrors of
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-World War II.
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Despite having a _________ system of government, China has a ____________ economy.
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-communist / free-market
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Typically politics, ethnicity, racism, or religious dissent is at the root of violations of ______________.
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-human rights
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Which of the following countries is an example of a country that combines communism with a free market?
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-China
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How do new innovations in transportation affect the time and the cost of trading?
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-Changes in transportation have decreased the amount of time it takes to trade goods around the world.
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Why did the U.S. take action to end the Taliban regime in Afghanistan?
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-The Taliban was supporting and sheltering Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorist group
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created by
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-the United Nations.
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How did the Pennsylvania attack differ from the attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center?
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-The passengers on the plane found out about the other attacks and forced the crash of the plane before it reached the intended target.
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Developed nations are able to provide healthcare services because of the development of __________.
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-strong government infrastructure
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Analyze three factors that cause many endemic diseases to spread in the developing world.
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-Many endemic diseases in the developing world are waterborne. These diseases are spread by a lack of access to clean, safe drinking water and sanitation services. Some nations in the developing world also face the obstacle of low levels of literacy. Low levels of literacy produce fewer trained healthcare workers and fewer economic resources to attract healthcare providers. Many people living in developing nations lack the economic resources to pay for basic healthcare services.
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After the September 11 attacks, NATO invoked Article 5 of its treaty which stated that allied nations must support
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-a nation under attack
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The AIDS/HIV health crisis in Botswana is __________.
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-more severe than the AIDS/HIV crisis in Belgium
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intended to frighten governments into changing their policies
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-terrorism
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According to the chart, in which country do babies have the least chance of survival?
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-Bangladesh
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Discuss the economic impact of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
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-The fall of the World Trade Center immediately rocked the New York Stock Exchange and caused enormous damage to lower Manhattan. The stock exchange remained shut for four days, which put a drag on worldwide economies.Locally, businesses throughout New York suffered as they tried to relocate and restart operations. Worldwide, tourism declined, and the airline industry, one of the key components of the U.S. economy, suffered tremendously as people were afraid to fly. U.S. economyslowed down even further as consumer confidence fell
