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Multiple Choice 1. According to the “new urbanists,” a. the distribution of wealth and power are important determinants of the shape of cities. b. geography is the main factor shaping urban life. c. cities evolve as a natural progression. d. Both a and c Answer: a. the distribution of wealth and power are important determinants of the shape of cities. 2. The “new urban sociology” a. promotes new theoretical ideas. b. draws on Marxism. c. is rooted in urban ecology. d. emerged in the late 1950s. Answer: b. draws on Marxism. 3. Which of the following statements is a part of central place theory? a. Cities are able to produce goods and services more efficiently than smaller places. b. Cities promote competition among producers. c. Economic advantages increase as one moves closer to the central business district. d. All of the above Answer: d. All of the above 4. Alonso’s model suggests that a. economic activities are characterized by monopolies. b. as distance from the Central Business District increases, rents decease. c. as distance from the Central Business District increases, rents increase. d. certain urban groups have lower economic opportunities than others. Answer: b. as distance from the Central Business District increases, rents decease. 5. Which of the following statements describes regal-ritual cities? a. They manage a colonial region for another nation. b. They have religious and political concerns at their core. c. Trade is their principal concern. d. Many government activities take place there. Answer: b. They have religious and political concerns at their core. 6. Which type of city is Alonso’s Economic Theory based on? a. medieval cities b. administrative cities c. colonial cities d. capitalist-industrial cities Answer: d. capitalist-industrial cities 7. The structural context of the last decade includes all but which of the following? a. a decline in industrial jobs b. an increase in manufacturing jobs c. a movement of people from cities to suburbs d. increasing financial problems in many cities Answer: b. an increase in manufacturing jobs 8. Henri Lefebvre a. argued that urban development is a product of the capitalist economic system. b. emphasized the role of the primary circuit of capital. c. argued that investment in real estate guarantees successful urban growth. d. suggested that individual forces determine urban development. Answer: a. argued that urban development is a product of the capitalist economic system. 9. In Lefebvre’s theory, “abstract space” a. is the same as “social space.” b. is the type of space considered by government and businesses. c. is the most important type of space. d. is not connected to economic activity. Answer: b. is the type of space considered by government and businesses. 10. Which of the following is NOT an illustration of an urban area as a theme park? a. Disney’s Main Street b. BosWash c. Universal City, California’s CityWalk d. Baltimore’s Harborplace Answer: b. BosWash 11. David Harvey’s research a. suggests that urban growth occurs evenly. b. is based on Lefebvre’s ideas about the second circuit of capital. c. focuses on Chicago. d. ignores the role of government. Answer: b. is based on Lefebvre’s ideas about the second circuit of capital. 12. According to David Harvey, a. real estate investment takes place in a free market. b. governments shape a city’s use of space. c. all neighborhoods are characterized by similar real estate buying and selling patterns. d. capitalists and government agencies are opposed to each other. Answer: b. governments shape a city’s use of space. 13. Which of the following statements describes “welfare capitalism”? a. It is a market system in which the government provides workers with subsidies. b. It exists when private corporations administer welfare programs. c. It eliminates the conflicts between the working class and the different levels of government. d. None of the above Answer: a. It is a market system in which the government provides workers with subsidies. 14. Which of the following statements describes Castells’s concept of the mode of development? a. It is based on the similar Marxist concept of mode of production. b. It can be used to understand industrial growth in suburbs. c. It emphasizes today’s need to discover and apply new sources of energy. d. Both a and b Answer: d. Both a and b 15. The fact that many industries absorbed their competitors and formed oligopolies a. illustrates horizontal integration. b. illustrates vertical disintegration. c. contributed to the dismantling of agglomeration economies. d. is a phenomenon that began only in the late 1970s. Answer: a. illustrates horizontal integration. 16. Vertical disintegration is linked to all but which of the following? a. subcontracting of production b. increase in the Northeastern U.S. urban population c. fast growth in the Sunbelt region d. greater use of non-unionized labor Answer: b. increase in the Northeastern U.S. urban population 17. According to Logan and Molotch, urban growth coalitions a. are formed by local residents. b. emphasize the need to create a social space view. c. were created to fight environmental degradation in cities. d. focus on ways to increase profits and economic activities. Answer: d. focus on ways to increase profits and economic activities. 18. In the context of the United States, what does economic restructuring include? a. a decline in the proportion of manufacturing jobs in overall employment b. a rise in entry-level jobs for lower-skilled workers c. a rising skills mismatch d. Both a and c Answer: d. Both a and c 19. The world-system perspective a. suggests that capitalism exists only in Western countries. b. supports the idea that soon all cities will be part of the “core.” c. links changes in cities to the development of a global economy. d. suggests that cities in poor countries benefit greatly from globalization. Answer: c. links changes in cities to the development of a global economy. 20. Which of the following areas contains the highest concentrations of poverty? a. central cities b. suburban areas c. nonmetropolitan areas d. rural areas Answer: a. central cities True/False 21. The theoretical arguments of “the new urban sociology” are quite old. Answer: True 22. Agglomeration industries keep production costs lower in cities. Answer: True 23. Competition is often greater in smaller towns. Answer: False 24. Alonso’s model assumes an efficient urban transportation system. Answer: True 25. Alonso’s model explains why rents are higher in suburbs than in the center of the city. Answer: False 26. Racism and discrimination limit the validity of Alonso’s theory. Answer: True 27. The primary circuit of capital consists of real estate investment. Answer: False 28. According to Lefebvre, space affects our behavior. Answer: True 29. Governments focus on social space while businesses focus on abstract space. Answer: False 30. Michael Sorkin and Mark Gottdiener point out that private themed environments are benign imitations. Answer: False 31. Harvey argues that actions taken by real estate investors can lead to urban decay and abandonment. Answer: True 32. In comparison with Karl Marx, Manuel Castells maintained a less orthodox approach to the study of cities. Answer: False 33. Manuel Castells introduced the concept of the mode of development. Answer: True 34. Scott argues that individual competition over territory determines urban growth patterns. Answer: False 35. Horizontal integration created economically interdependent metropolitan regions. Answer: True 36. Vertical disintegration helped to raise workers’ compensations. Answer: False 37. John Logan and Harvey Molotch employed political economy theory in an effort to identify who the central decision makers in North American cities are and to determine why they do what they do. Answer: True 38. Economic restructuring is linked to a rapid growth in manufacturing. Answer: False 39. Core cities include Calcutta, Kuala Lumpur, Mexico City, and Cairo. Answer: False 40. World system theory operates as a hierarchy so that countries at various stages of development constitute (1) the “core,” (2) the “semiperiphery,” and (3) the “periphery.” Answer: True 41. Poverty results in the serious problem of homelessness in more developed countries. Answer: True Essay 42. What are the pros and the cons of urban growth? Who are the groups who benefit from or are hurt by urban growth? Answer: Pros: 1. Economic Opportunities: Urban growth often leads to increased job opportunities, especially in sectors like services, manufacturing, and technology. 2. Infrastructure Development: Cities tend to have better infrastructure, including transportation, healthcare, and education facilities, which can improve quality of life. 3. Cultural Diversity: Urban areas are often melting pots of different cultures, providing a rich and diverse environment. 4. Innovation and Creativity: Urban centers tend to be hubs of innovation and creativity, fostering entrepreneurship and cultural development. Cons: 1. Urban Sprawl: Uncontrolled urban growth can lead to urban sprawl, which can strain resources, increase pollution, and reduce green spaces. 2. Housing Affordability: Rapid urban growth can lead to increased housing costs, making it difficult for low-income residents to afford housing. 3. Traffic Congestion: More people in urban areas can lead to increased traffic congestion, impacting quality of life and the environment. 4. Social Issues: Urban growth can exacerbate social issues such as crime, poverty, and inequality if not managed effectively. Groups Affected by Urban Growth: 1. Beneficiaries: Businesses, developers, and skilled workers often benefit from urban growth through increased economic opportunities. 2. Adversely Affected: Low-income residents, marginalized communities, and the environment can be negatively impacted by the drawbacks of urban growth. 43. How do individuals, institutions, and structures shape urban space? How does space, in turn, influence the choices of urban residents? Answer: Individuals: People's choices, preferences, and behaviors shape urban space. For example, the demand for certain amenities or housing types can influence urban development. Institutions: Government policies, regulations, and planning decisions play a significant role in shaping urban space. Zoning laws, building codes, and infrastructure investments all impact the physical form of cities. Structures: Physical structures such as buildings, roads, and public spaces define the layout and function of urban space. They can influence how people move through and interact with the city. Influence of Space on Urban Residents' Choices: Accessibility: The layout of urban space can influence how easily residents can access amenities, services, and opportunities, which can impact their choices. Social Interaction: The design of urban space can facilitate or hinder social interaction, affecting residents' social networks and sense of community. Quality of Life: Factors such as air and noise pollution, access to green spaces, and the availability of services can influence residents' quality of life and choices about where to live. Overall, the shaping of urban space is a complex interplay between individuals, institutions, and physical structures, with space itself influencing the choices and behaviors of urban residents. 44. Globalization and economic restructuring have had strong impacts on the shape of cities in the United States and abroad. What are these major impacts? How do they differ between cities in the “core” and “periphery”? Answer: Major Impacts: 1. Shift in Economic Activities: Globalization has led to a shift from traditional industries to services and information-based sectors, impacting the economic base of cities. 2. Spatial Restructuring: Economic restructuring has resulted in changes in the spatial organization of cities, with new commercial and residential patterns emerging. 3. Increased Inequality: Globalization has contributed to increased income inequality within cities, with some areas experiencing significant economic growth while others decline. 4. Urban Sprawl: Economic restructuring has often led to urban sprawl as cities expand to accommodate new economic activities and populations. Differences between Core and Periphery Cities: • Core Cities: Core cities, often located in developed countries, tend to experience more positive impacts such as increased economic growth and investment due to their strong infrastructure and skilled workforce. • Periphery Cities: Periphery cities, located in developing countries, may experience more negative impacts such as increased informal settlements, environmental degradation, and social unrest due to rapid urbanization and limited resources. 45. Explain the process of the “urbanization of poverty.” How do the homeless fit in here? Answer: Urbanization of Poverty: This refers to the phenomenon where poverty becomes increasingly concentrated in urban areas. Factors such as rural-to-urban migration, lack of employment opportunities, and inadequate social services contribute to this trend. Homelessness: Homelessness is a complex issue often associated with the urbanization of poverty. Homeless individuals may struggle to find affordable housing due to rising housing costs and limited income opportunities, leading to homelessness. Fit with Urbanization of Poverty: Homeless individuals are often among the most marginalized and impoverished in urban areas, representing the extreme end of the urbanization of poverty spectrum. They may face additional challenges such as lack of access to healthcare, social services, and stable employment, further perpetuating their cycle of poverty and homelessness. Overall, the urbanization of poverty and homelessness are interconnected processes influenced by economic, social, and political factors, highlighting the need for comprehensive and inclusive urban development policies to address these issues. Test Bank for Cities and Urban Life Plus John J. Macionis, Vincent N. Parrillo 9780205902583, 9780205206377,9780133869804
