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WorksheetsThrow Away Society
Total questions: 63
Worksheet time: 1hrs 3mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
What does advancing technology often make economically sensible, according to the passage?
a)
Building durable objects
b)
Building for the long term
c)
Building cheap, unrepairable, throwaway objects
d)
Building objects with high repair costs
2.
What does the passage cite as an example of why it becomes cheaper to replace rather than repair certain objects?
a)
Decreased manufacturing costs
b)
Lower repair costs
c)
Increased durability
d)
Stable economic conditions
3.
What strategy does the passage suggest people adopt to cope with uncertainty about future needs?
a)
Committing large resources for rigidly fixed objects
b)
Building for short-term use or making products adaptable
c)
Ignoring technological advancements
d)
Emphasizing permanence in construction
4.
What term does the passage use to describe objects designed for short-term use or adaptability?
a)
Stability
b)
Permanence
c)
Durability
d)
Disposability
5.
What international example does the passage provide to illustrate the use of temporary structures in education?
a)
London's Department of Education
b)
Paris' Board of Education
c)
England's mobile university
d)
Germany's portable playgrounds
6.
Why does the passage suggest that disposable clothes and temporary classrooms imply shorter-lasting relationships with objects?
a)
They are designed to serve short-term purposes and may be dismantled or relocated after each use.
b)
They are too expensive to discard.
c)
They are built with high durability
d)
They are resistant to wear and tear
7.
What does the passage suggest about the culture surrounding the little girl who trades in her doll?
a)
Objects are cherished and kept for long periods of time
b)
Objects are used up quickly and ruthlessly eliminated
c)
Objects are replaced with new ones only when necessary
d)
Objects are valued for their longevity and durability
8.
What was the initial reaction of many Americans visiting Sweden in the early 1950s, according to the passage?
a)
They were astounded by the cleanliness of the country
b)
They were surprised to see disposable products blooming along highways
c)
They were impressed by the abundance of cloth handkerchiefs
d)
They were disappointed by the lack of disposable items
9.
What does the passage suggest about disposable tissues and cloth handkerchiefs in Japan?
a)
Disposable tissues are considered old-fashioned compared to cloth handkerchiefs
b)
Cloth handkerchiefs are regarded as unsanitary compared to disposable tissues
c)
Disposable tissues have replaced cloth handkerchiefs in popularity
d)
Cloth handkerchiefs are only used by the working class
10.
What is one reason cited in the passage for the popularity of paper clothing?
a)
Environmental concerns
b)
Aesthetic appeal and imaginative design
c)
Resistance to wear and tear
d)
High cost compared to traditional clothing
11.
What does the passage suggest about the mentality produced by the throw-away culture?
a)
It fosters a sense of attachment and sentimental value to objects
b)
It leads to a set of radically altered values with respect to property
c)
It encourages long-term investments in durable goods
d)
It promotes a sustainable approach to consumption
12.
What does the passage suggest about the price of paper clothing compared to traditional clothing?
a)
Paper clothing is cheaper and almost disposable compared to traditional clothing
b)
Paper clothing is more expensive and durable than traditional clothing
c)
Paper clothing is less accessible to consumers
d)
Paper clothing is comparable in price and quality to traditional clothing
13.
What does E. F. Carter of the Stanford Research Institute state about the average age of dwellings in the United States?
a)
Virtually infinite for houses built in colonial days
b)
Approximately a hundred years for houses built in colonial days
c)
About forty years at present
d)
Steadily increasing over time
14.
How does Buckminster Fuller describe New York City's development process?
a)
Static and unchanging
b)
Evolutionary and constantly changing
c)
Disorganized and chaotic
d)
Predictable and orderly
15.
What analogy does Buckminster Fuller draw between New York City's development and agricultural practices?
a)
Harvesting crops
b)
Planting seeds
c)
Rotation of crops
d)
Cultivating fields
16.
What personal experience does the author share to illustrate the concept of "Einsteinian relativity" in children?
a)
His daughter's inability to find a supermarket
b)
His son's fascination with skyscrapers
c)
His niece's confusion about city streets
d)
His nephew's interest in urban planning
17.
What assumption does the author's daughter make when she couldn't find the supermarket?
a)
The building had been relocated
b)
The building had been torn down and replaced
c)
She had entered the wrong building
d)
The supermarket was closed for the day
18.
What does the passage suggest about the impact of the age of transience on children's perceptions of the physical environment?
a)
Children are more rooted and connected to their surroundings
b)
Children are less affected by changes in the physical environment
c)
Children's assumptions about the physical environment are influenced by societal trends
d)
Children's perceptions of the physical environment remain unchanged over time
19.
What concept replaces the economics of permanence as society changes, according to the passage?
a)
Economics of stability
b)
Economics of impermanence
c)
Economics of durability
d)
Economics of repairability
20.
Why does the passage suggest it becomes economically sensible to build cheap, unrepairable, throwaway objects?
a)
Because they last longer
b)
Because they are more sustainable
c)
Because they can be easily repaired
d)
Because it is cheaper to replace than repair them
21.
What does advancing technology make possible as time goes by, according to the passage?
a)
The decline in technological advancements
b)
The improvement of objects
c)
The stabilization of economic conditions
d)
The decrease in product lifespan
22.
What is cited as an example in the passage to illustrate the economic sense of building for the short term rather than the long?
a)
Ten-year-old buildings in Miami
b)
Third-generation computers
c)
Stable apartment houses in Pittsburgh
d)
Ancient cathedrals
23.
What is identified as a response to the inevitability of change and uncertainties about future needs, according to the passage?
a)
Commitment to fixed forms and functions
b)
Building for long-term use
c)
Adaptability of products
d)
Technological conservatism
24.
What phenomenon does the rise of disposability in society respond to, as mentioned in the passage?
a)
Stability of societal functions
b)
Accelerating change and increasing complexities
c)
Decreasing uncertainties in society
d)
Predictability of technological advancements
25.
What does the passage suggest will likely happen as change accelerates and complexities multiply in society?
a)
A decrease in the principle of disposability
b)
An increase in man's relationships with things
c)
A stabilization of economic conditions
d)
Further extensions of the principle of disposability
26.
What is described as a response to disposability besides creating throw-away items?
a)
Permanent structures that serve multiple purposes
b)
Objects designed for short-term use but can be dismantled and relocated
c)
Designing durable products with long-lasting features
d)
Embracing the principles of sustainability
27.
What is the purpose of creating temporary classrooms, as mentioned in the passage?
a)
To provide stability in educational settings
b)
To accommodate rapidly shifting population densities
c)
To promote long-term relationships between students and their environment
d)
To encourage the use of permanent structures
28.
In what way do temporary classrooms resemble disposable clothes, according to the passage?
a)
They are designed for short-term use and then discarded
b)
They are too big and expensive to discard but can be dismantled and relocated as needed
c)
They are permanent fixtures in educational settings
d)
They encourage long-term use and sustainability
29.
What term is used to describe the "thinkbelt" designed by architect Cedric Price?
a)
Mobile university
b)
Permanent structures
c)
Temporary enclosures
d)
Industrial playgrounds
30.
What is the primary characteristic of the "thinkbelt" designed by architect Cedric Price?
a)
It relies on permanent buildings
b)
It serves a single purpose
c)
It uses mobile and variable physical enclosures
d)
It is designed for long-term use
31.
What is the purpose of building "portable playgrounds" in New York City, according to the passage?
a)
To provide permanent recreational facilities for city residents
b)
To serve as temporary installations on vacant lots until other uses are found for the land
c)
To discourage children from playing outdoors
d)
To promote sustainability initiatives in urban planning
32.
What is emphasized about traditional playgrounds in comparison to "super-industrial playgrounds"?
a)
Traditional playgrounds are more durable and permanent
b)
Super-industrial playgrounds are designed to last longer
c)
Super-industrial playgrounds are temporary by design and refuse to stay put
d)
Traditional playgrounds are more suitable for long-term use
33.
What trend is described regarding the construction of playgrounds in urban areas?
a)
A shift towards building permanent playgrounds
b)
A decrease in the number of playgrounds due to space constraints
c)
An increase in the construction of temporary playgrounds that can be relocated as needed
d)
A focus on building playgrounds with advanced features and technology
34.
What is modularism, as described in the passage?
a)
The attempt to make sub-structures more permanent at the expense of the whole structures
b)
The design of structures with permanently fixed components
c)
The method of constructing buildings using only temporary materials
d)
The construction of structures with greater permanence by combining various modular components
35.
How does Cedric Price's "thinkbelt" plan propose to lend greater permanence to structures?
a)
By using disposable materials for construction
b)
By incorporating movable modules into building frames
c)
By reinforcing the structures with steel beams and concrete walls
d)
By building structures that cannot be dismantled or relocated
36.
What is emphasized about the distinction between disposability and mobility in relation to modules?
a)
The distinction is significant for the durability of structures
b)
The distinction has no impact on the duration of relationships
c)
The distinction is crucial for understanding the rapid through-put of things in life
d)
The distinction is blurred, as rearranging modules creates new configurations and entities despite retaining some components
37.
What is a characteristic of many supposedly "permanent" buildings today, as mentioned in the passage?
a)
They are constructed using traditional building methods
b)
They are designed with movable interior walls and partitions
c)
They are built with a focus on long-term durability
d)
They are resistant to changes and alterations
38.
What does the passage highlight about the invention of the ballpoint pen in terms of modularity and disposability?
a)
It provided a writing tool that could be resharpened, extending its life expectancy
b)
It consolidated technological advances by providing a pen with its own inkwell
c)
It marked the creation of the first disposable pen-and-ink combination
d)
It led to a decrease in the production of pens due to the longevity of the writing tool
39.
How does the pen industry address the psychological reality of guilt associated with discarding ballpoint pens?
a)
By developing pens with longer life expectancies
b)
By encouraging users to reuse and repair their pens
c)
By creating modular pens with replaceable ink cartridges
d)
By manufacturing pens using traditional materials and craftsmanship
40.
What is the primary characteristic of architecture designed to embody modularism principles, as described in the passage?
a)
Fixed structures with no possibility of rearrangement
b)
Multi-purpose buildings with permanent configurations
c)
Versatile structures with interchangeable modular parts
d)
Temporary installations that cannot be modified or relocated
41.
What is the purpose of Joan Littlewood's "Fun Palace" plan, according to the passage?
a)
To create a multi-purpose building for various social activities
b)
To design a permanent structure for theatrical productions
c)
To establish a zone of total probability for artistic expression
d)
To construct a futuristic building with advanced technology
42.
What does Reyner Banham describe as a characteristic of the "Fun Palace" designed by Joan Littlewood?
a)
It is a piece of long-lasting urban equipment
b)
It features permanent installations for different events
c)
It is a flexible structure with movable walls and floors
d)
It remains unchanged in its configuration over time
43.
How does the "Fun Palace" differ from traditional multi-purpose buildings, according to the passage?
a)
It is designed to host single events at a time
b)
It incorporates permanent installations for various activities
c)
It is built with a fixed configuration that cannot be altered
d)
It consists of modular parts that can be rearranged to create temporary configurations
44.
What is the main connection between rentalism and the tendencies described in the passage?
a)
Rentalism encourages long-term commitments to products
b)
Rentalism emphasizes permanence and durability
c)
Rentalism intensifies transience and shorter relationships with products
d)
Rentalism promotes ownership of products
45.
What trend has been observed in housing construction in the United States since the end of World War II?
a)
A decline in the construction of rental apartments
b)
A decrease in the percentage of new housing starts for apartment buildings
c)
An increase in the proportion of new housing devoted to rental apartments
d)
A shift towards larger, more permanent housing structures
46.
What is highlighted as a characteristic of apartment living, particularly among young people?
a)
Long-term commitments to the rental property
b)
Strong desire for home ownership
c)
Preference for minimum involvement housing
d)
Reluctance to relocate frequently
47.
What impact did the automotive industry have on consumer behavior regarding major purchases?
a)
It reinforced the traditional notion of permanent commitment
b)
It discouraged consumers from purchasing new cars frequently
c)
It encouraged consumers to view major purchases as long-term investments
d)
It shortened the interval between purchases, thereby reducing the duration of relationships with vehicles
48.
How has the rise of auto rentals challenged traditional patterns in the automotive industry?
a)
By promoting long-term ownership of vehicles
b)
By reducing the availability of rental cars
c)
By encouraging consumers to purchase rather than rent cars
d)
By offering an alternative to car ownership, allowing consumers to rent vehicles for short periods
49.
What new type of stores has emerged in the United States, as described in the passage?
a)
Specialty stores focused on selling products
b)
Rental stores that offer a wide range of products for temporary use
c)
Membership-based clubs offering discounts on purchases
d)
Online marketplaces for buying and selling used goods
50.
What products can be rented from the new type of general store mentioned in the passage?
a)
Only household items such as furniture and appliances
b)
Only specialized equipment for specific activities
c)
Virtually any product, including clothing, electronics, and even live plants
d)
Only products that are too expensive to purchase outright
51.
How does the rise of rentalism contribute to shortening the duration of relationships between individuals and products?
a)
By encouraging long-term commitments to rented items
b)
By promoting ownership rather than rental arrangements
c)
By providing consumers with a sense of permanence and stability
d)
By increasing the number of people with successive relationships to the same object, thus reducing the average duration of such relationships
52.
What broader effect does rentalism have on people's lives, according to the passage?
a)
It encourages accumulation of possessions
b)
It promotes a sense of permanence and stability
c)
It allows people to travel light and be more flexible
d)
It fosters a culture of long-term commitments and ownership
53.
What is the contrast between the average relationship with a car for an owner versus a renter, as stated in the passage?
a)
Owners have shorter relationships with cars compared to renters
b)
Owners have longer relationships with cars compared to renters
c)
Renters have longer relationships with cars compared to owners
d)
Renters have shorter relationships with cars compared to owners
54.
What is the primary impact of fast-shifting preferences and high-speed technological change on the life cycle of products?
a)
Products enjoy longer periods of popularity
b)
Products have relatively stable life spans
c)
Products experience shorter life cycles
d)
Products become less reliant on marketing and promotion
55.
How has the popularity of products and brands changed over time, according to the passage?
a)
There has been a consistent increase in the longevity of popular products and brands
b)
Products and brands now experience more frequent changes in popularity
c)
Popular products and brands tend to remain stable over long periods
d)
The popularity of products and brands is no longer influenced by technological change
56.
What is an example of a company specializing in "temporary" products, as mentioned in the passage?
a)
Ivory Soap
b)
Calumet Baking Soda
c)
Wham-O Manufacturing Company
d)
Smith Brothers' Cough Drops
57.
How do companies like Wham-O Manufacturing Company respond to the rapid rise and fall of fads?
a)
They focus on creating products with enduring appeal
b)
They attempt to prolong the life cycle of their products
c)
They anticipate the short life cycle of their products and specialize in designing "temporary" products
d)
They discontinue production of products that fail to meet sales targets
58.
What is the significance of the coordination between those who originate fads, mass media, and companies exploiting them, as mentioned?
a)
It indicates a decline in consumer interest in fads
b)
It suggests a lack of authenticity in the products introduced as fads
c)
It demonstrates the efficiency of the modern economy in generating and popularizing fads
d)
It reflects a growing resistance among consumers to artificial trends
59.
What is the primary characteristic of fads in modern high-technology societies, as described in the passage?
a)
They originate spontaneously without any external influence
b)
They have enduring appeal and remain popular for long periods
c)
They are generated artificially and promoted by mass media
d)
They reflect long-term societal trends and preferences
60.
How do companies adapt to the rapid turnover of products caused by fads?
a)
By investing heavily in traditional advertising campaigns
b)
By manufacturing products with longer life spans
c)
By focusing on producing products that meet long-term consumer needs
d)
By developing methods for the rapid creation and distribution of temporary products
61.
What trend is observed in the turnover of products in modern society, according to the passage?
a)
A decrease in the rate of introduction of new products
b)
A stabilization in the duration of product life cycles
c)
An increase in the frequency of product turnover
d)
A shift towards manufacturing products with enduring appeal
62.
What is the anticipated trajectory of product cycles in the future, based on the passage?
a)
Products will continue to have stable, predictable life spans
b)
Companies will focus on manufacturing products with enduring popularity
c)
The distinction between fads and ordinary products will disappear as shorter product cycles become the norm
d)
Products will have longer life cycles due to advancements in technology and marketing
63.
What is the broader context within which the acceleration of product turnover occurs, as mentioned in the passage?
a)
A decline in consumer demand for disposable items
b)
An increase in consumer resistance to artificial trends
c)
A shift towards more sustainable and eco-friendly production practices
d)
A larger societal transition towards high-transience living
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