(MCQ) Urbanization and the future of cities - Vance Kite

1. What percentage of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas by mid-century?

• A. 50%

• B. 60%

• C. 70%

• D. 80%

Answer explanation

Key: C – “By mid-century, this will increase to 70%.” (0:11 - 0:16)

Explanation: The script states that by mid-century, 70% of the world's population will live in urban areas.

2. What major change allowed early humans to settle in villages?

• A. The discovery of fire

• B. The development of agriculture

• C. The invention of the wheel

• D. The creation of cities

Answer explanation

Key: B – “But about 10,000 years ago, our ancestors began to learn the secrets of selective breeding and early agricultural techniques. For the first time, people could raise food rather than search for it, and this led to the development of semi-permanent villages for the first time in history.” (0:35 - 0:49)
Explanation: The script explains that about 10,000 years ago, early humans started farming, which led to the development of semi-permanent villages.

3. Why were early villages only 'semi-permanent'?

• A. People had to move because of wars

• B. The soil became depleted over time

• C. Wild animals forced people to move

• D. There were not enough houses

Answer explanation

Key: B – “Why only semi-permanent?" you might ask. Well, at first, the villages still had to relocate every few years as the soil became depleted.” (0:51 - 1:00)

Explanation: The script mentions that early villages had to relocate as the soil lost its nutrients, making farming difficult.

4. What was one effect of food surpluses in early cities?

• A. People could develop new specialized trades

• B. Everyone had to work in agriculture

• C. Cities became smaller

• D. Trade became less important

Answer explanation

Key: A – “And with the food surpluses that these techniques produced, it was no longer necessary for everyone to farm. This allowed the development of other specialized trades, and, by extension, cities.” (1:11 - 1:20)

Explanation: The script states that food surpluses allowed some people to stop farming and take up other jobs, leading to the growth of cities.

5. Why did ancient cities have very high population densities?

• A. There were not enough houses

• B. There was not enough clean water

• C. People wanted to live close to their families

• D. Modern transportation was not available

Answer explanation

Key: D – “One reason for this was that transportation was not widely available, so everything had to be within walking distance, including the few sources of clean water that existed then.” (2:04 - 2:10)

Explanation: The script explains that in ancient cities, everything had to be within walking distance due to limited transportation.

6. What helped ancient cities expand trade and communication?

• A. More people working in farming

• B. New religions

• C. New technologies like carts and ships

• D. The invention of electricity

Answer explanation

Key: C – “And as trade flourished, so did technologies that facilitated it, like carts, ships, roads, and ports.” (1:33 - 1:41)

Explanation: The script mentions that trade flourished as technology improved, including the use of carts, ships, and roads.

7. What major historical event led to the rise of modern cities?

• A. The Roman Empire

• B. The Industrial Revolution

• C. The Middle Ages

• D. World War II

Answer explanation

Key: B – “Modern cities as we know them didn’t really get their start until the Industrial Revolution, when new technology deployed on a mass scale allowed cities to expand and integrate further.” (2:26 - 2:30)

Explanation: The script states that modern cities as we know them started with the Industrial Revolution, when large-scale technology was introduced.

8. What new developments came with the Industrial Revolution?

• A. New farming tools

• B. Fire and sanitation departments

• C. The first houses

• D. The discovery of America

Answer explanation

Key: B – “Establishing police, fire, and sanitation departments, as well as road networks, and later electricity distribution.” (2:36 - 2:41).

Explanation: The script highlights that cities expanded during the Industrial Revolution with services like sanitation, police, and electricity.

9. Where will most future population growth happen?

• A. In rural areas

• B. In urban areas of developed countries

• C. In urban areas of the world's poorest countries

• D. In small villages

Answer explanation

Key: C – “Most of this growth will occur in the urban areas of the world's poorest countries.” (2:52 - 2:57)

Explanation: The script states that most of the world's future population growth will take place in urban areas of poorer nations.

10. What is one possible way to make future cities more sustainable?

• A. Using more fossil fuels

• B. Expanding cities into forests

• C. Creating rooftop gardens and vertical farms

• D. Building wider roads for more cars

Answer explanation

Key: C – “Food production might move to vertical farms and skyscrapers, rooftop gardens, or vacant lots in city centers.” (3:17 - 3:25)

Explanation: The script discusses how food production in the future may involve rooftop gardens and vertical farms to support growing populations.