Chapter 10: Trees
Test bank
Multiple Choice
1. Which theory states that initial development in a region will cause deforestation, but as the
economy changes and people migrate out of rural areas the forest will recover?
a. forest transition theory
b. ecological succession
c. reconciliation ecology
d. climax vegetation
2. Under capitalist production systems, farmers in areas of agricultural decline are least likely to
a. increase inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides.
b. abandon their fields and look for other work.
c. increase the land area under production.
d. switch to more lucrative crops.
3. All of the following are examples of reconciliation ecology EXCEPT
a. shade-grown agriculture.
b. monoculture timber plantations.
c. forest canopy tours.
d. fuelwood collection.
4. A(n) _______ is an event that temporarily or permanently alters the vegetation in an ecosystem.
a. succession
b. climax vegetation
c. disturbance
d. ecosystem service
5. The recovery of forests in Europe is likely due to
a. the availability of forests in other regions.
b. the forest transition theory.
c. the spatial fix.
d. all of the above.
6. Benefits that an organic system creates though its function such as food, clean air or water,
energy, and nutrient cycling is known as _______.
a. ecosystem services
b. climax vegetation
c. biodiversity
d. succession
7. Which of the following statements about plantation forests is TRUE?
a. Plantation forests contain a great deal of biodiversity.
b. Plantation forests appear to increase reforestation.
c. Plantation forests offer the same ecosystem services as the original forests.
d. Plantation forests are disappearing rapidly.
8. The market response model suggests that
a. deforestation will continue until all trees have been removed.
b. population growth is leading to deforestation.
c. deforestation will slow as scarcity of trees leads to innovation and substitution.
d. initial development in a region will cause deforestation, but urban migration will result
in forest recover.
True/False
9. A person with an anthropocentric viewpoint would strongly favor attributing legal rights to
trees.
a. true
b. false
10. According to a political economy perspective, the best option for dealing with deforestation is to
wait and allow the markets to encourage preservation activities.
a. true
b. false
11. Rates of forestation and deforestation vary around the world, but overall global forest cover is
declining.
a. true
b. false
12. After a disturbance, a forest will always return to its climax vegetation.
a. true
b. false
13. There is no precedent for extending rights to non-human entities such as trees.
a. true
b. false
14. Deforestation provides an example of the second contradiction of capitalism.
a. true
b. false
Identification
Keywords: acid rain, anthropocentrism, biodiversity, climax vegetation, disturbance, ecocentrism,
ecosystem services, forest transition theory, induced intensification, market response model,
preservation, primitive accumulation, reconciliation ecology, second contradiction of capitalism,
secondary succession, social reproduction, succession
People: Frederic Edward Clements, Christopher Stone
Concepts: symbolic value of trees, the U-curve model of forest cover
Short Essay
1. What is the difference between the forest transition theory and ecological succession?
2. What does the forest transition theory state? What are its critiques? What might explain why
the theory seems to hold in some situations but not others?
3. Is the cultivation of plantation forests a good solution to deforestation? Why or why not?
4. How does a political economist view deforestation? Use at least two key terms.