24) People who live entirely within an urban environment ________.
A) have too many luxury goods at too expensive a price
B) are never provided enough quality housing, even for those who can afford it
C) become disconnected from nature and from the true costs of their needs and activities
D) have insufficient choices for activities and lifestyles
E) pay less for food and gasoline than people living in rural areas
25) People who seek to improve the resource sustainability of our cities urge us to ________.
A) maintain a slow, steady pattern of growth and development
B) use zoning and taxation to promote livable cities
C) impose strict limits on growth (apply UGBs)
D) use renewable energy sources and recycle materials
E) find a fair balance between imports and exports of resources
26) Calgary’s environmental footprint is created in the process of meeting the various needs of
Calgarians. The two needs with the largest ecological footprints are ________. Next come these
three needs, in order of decreasing footprint: ________.
A) goods and services; mobility, housing, and government
B) mobility and services; housing, government, and goods
C) housing and services; mobility, goods, and government
D) mobility and housing; goods, services, and government
E) housing and goods; mobility, government, and services
27) Urban centres may have a lower per capita environmental footprint than the suburbs because
________.
A) of their higher consumption rate
B) the suburban footprint is increased by the contribution of small agricultural areas between the
subdivisions
C) of their higher economic footprint
D) of the shorter distances that need to be travelled and the higher population density
E) of the economy of scarcity
20.5 True/False Questions
1) In Canada, more that 80% of the population is made up of urban dwellers.
2) The term “sprawl” refers to the unplanned spread of urbanized land use patterns outward from
a central city.
3) One way to increase urban sustainability would be to allocate land for locally produced foods.
4) One problem with urban centres is that they tend to export their wastes to some other area that
then must deal with these wastes.
5) Densely populated cities are less efficient than rural areas at providing things such as
electricity, schools, and transportation.
6) The ecological footprint of large cities is about the same as surrounding rural areas.
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20.6 Essay Questions
1) Why do urbanized societies need stretches of uninhabited and undeveloped land?
2) Explain at least three of the principles of smart growth.
3) What are some of the reasons for the development of parks and protected areas in and around
Canadian cities?
4) How do coyotes and racoons, which are not uncommon in most small- to medium-sized cities,
fit into the concept of urban ecology?
5) Explain the concept of “smart growth” in general terms.
6) Why have so many North Americans moved from cities to the suburbs?
7) What is the urban heat island effect and what creates it? How does this physical effect interact
with chemical pollution in the city?
8) Does urbanization cause increased resource consumption? What factor may complicate the
answer?
9) What are urban community gardens? Discuss their advantages.
10) What are the health impacts of sprawl?
20.7 Scenario-Based Questions
Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
A military base a few kilometres from a medium-sized city is being decommissioned. The base is
a large one, sited along a coastline, and includes some small hills, pristine woodlands and
wetlands, streams, a river, and a small lake. There is a railroad spur that connects the base with
the nearby city, as well as a four-lane highway. The base contains housing, schools, a hospital,
shops, and recreational areas for a population of 10 000. The city’s options for using, selling, or
leasing the land are numerous, and many groups have come forward with proposals.
1) One group proposes to convert the base to a new city suburb, with low-cost housing for
several thousand of the current inner-city residents. A possible major problem with this might
include ________.
A) that there is no guarantee that the buildings are in good condition
B) that the inner-city residents may not be able to fully appreciate the natural areas and miss the
inner-city quality of life
C) the highway traffic to and from the city
D) insufficient recreational opportunities for the new suburb
E) the lack of local jobs and the lack of transportation to existing jobs
2) A development group wishes to turn the area into a recreational facility, including an RV
resort, a major-league sports arena, a small-craft harbour for water sports, a hunting lodge, and
off-road activities, including motocross racing and dune buggy areas. An important concern
ecological about this proposal would be ________.
A) that the parking facilities would need to be increased
B) that the developer’s fees might not be enough to justify the long-term lease
C) the impacts on the woodlands, wetlands, and waterways
D) the need to widen the highway to sustain the increased traffic
E) whether the development group can attract major sports teams to a new arena
3) Members of several local environmental groups propose that nearly all of the buildings be
removed and the area turned into a regional hiking and camping area, with very limited vehicle
access. This will preserve the natural areas while providing recreation for the city dwellers. One
issue that is raised by opponents is ________.
A) whether revenue generated from users will pay for the changes and the maintenance of such a
facility
B) whether water sports will be accessible to all
C) whether there will be sufficient space for RV camping
D) that no one will be interested in that kind of recreation
E) that it will result in the loss of biodiversity
4) The city decides to do further study. You are hired as an assistant city planner who has some
expertise in ecological and resource management to study the feasibility of several of the
proposals. One of your first tasks will be ________.
A) to find out the zoning currently in place for the base and the required changes
B) to study potential environmental impacts and resource needs
C) mapping out area required by different proposals
D) investigating which proposal will bring in the most city revenue
E) talking to the investors for each proposal to determine if they can afford to fulfill their plans
5) During your preliminary environmental studies you find, and take into consideration, that
________.
A) the financial situation of some potential investors is shaky
B) the city needs to obtain a great deal of revenue from the final choice
C) a new housing development just outside the city limits may increase traffic on the connecting
highway
D) the wetlands include oyster beds and shallow estuaries that are habitats for shrimp, crabs, and
fish that are supporting many local industries
E) the lake has been stocked with several species of popular sports fish
6) You choose to recommend two of the proposals. You do this on the basis of ________.
A) the projected revenue they will bring in to the city
B) the financial standing of the investors and their proven ability to finish projects
C) the best use of the land for the highest numbers of people
D) the suggestions made to you by members of the city council
E) the sustainability of the uses and their compatibility with the environment
7) The city makes the best choice ________.
A) by having an intensive ad campaign funded by the developers and then putting it to a vote by
the citizens
B) after holding open town hall hearings to involve all interested citizens and stakeholders
C) after taking bids from the developers
D) by turning the decision over to a group of prominent business people from the local Chamber
of Commerce
E) on the basis of the projected revenue from the different choices
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