AND ANSWERS
Anthropocene - CORRECT ANSWER- A proposed geological era marked by significant
human impact on Earth. Indicators include increased CO2 levels and global
microplastics
Anthropocene historical context - CORRECT ANSWER- Coined in the early 2000s to
highlight human-induced environmental changes, debated in origin, from agriculture to
post-WWII industrialization
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) - CORRECT ANSWER- A Cold War doctrine
deterring nuclear war through the threat of total annihilation
Mutally Assured Destruction(MAD) historical context - CORRECT ANSWER- Shaped
the geopolitical landscape, particularly during the U.S.-Soviet nuclear arms race
Castle Bravo Test - CORRECT ANSWER- A U.S. hydrogen bomb test in 1954, resulting
in catastrophic environmental contamination
Castle Bravo Test historical context - CORRECT ANSWER- Highlighted the
unanticipated scale of nuclear fallout and its global effects
Runit Dome - CORRECT ANSWER- A containment site for nuclear waste in the
Marshall Islands
Runit Dome historical context - CORRECT ANSWER- Symbolizes lasting environmental
harm from Cold War-era nuclear testing
, Preservationism vs. Conservationism - CORRECT ANSWER- Philosophical divides in
early environmentalism; preservationism advocates for untouched nature, while
conservationism supports managed resource use.
Preservationism vs. Conservationism historical context - CORRECT ANSWER-
Emerged in the 19th-20th centuries, with figures like John Muir and Gifford Pinchot
Environmental Justice Movement - CORRECT ANSWER- Focuses on the intersection
of social inequity and environmental harm.
Environmental Justice Movement historical context - CORRECT ANSWER- Originated
in Warren County, NC, responding to hazardous waste in marginalized communities
Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" - CORRECT ANSWER- A pivotal 1962 book exposing
the ecological harm of pesticides like DDT
Rachel Carson's Silent Spring historical context - CORRECT ANSWER- Catalyzed
modern environmentalism and legislation such as the 1964 Wilderness Act
Risk Society - CORRECT ANSWER- A concept by Ulrich Beck, highlighting the
uncontrollable risks of technological and environmental changes
Risk Society historical context - CORRECT ANSWER- Explains the transition from
visible to invisible pollution concerns
The Great Acceleration - CORRECT ANSWER- A post-WWII period of rapid
environmental and economic changes
The Great Acceleration historical context - CORRECT ANSWER- Marked by industrial
growth, CO2 emissions, and biodiversity loss