Question 1

According to Diamond's 'road map' for societal collapse, which of the following sequences correctly describes the stages by which societies fail to address environmental problems?

Accepted Answer

They fail to anticipate a problem, the problem arrives and they fail to perceive it, they perceive the problem but fail to try to solve it, they try to solve it but may not succeed.

Question 2

Which of the following best explains why Mangareva Island survived longer than Pitcairn and Henderson, despite environmental challenges?

Accepted Answer

Mangareva survived by lowering its standard of living and adapting to resource scarcity.

Question 3

Which of the following is a real-world example of Malthusian theory as applied to the Polynesian islands?

Accepted Answer

Population increased geometrically while food production increased arithmetically, leading to resource shortages and collapse.

Question 4

Why did trade between Mangareva, Pitcairn, and Henderson islands stop around 1500 AD?

Accepted Answer

Deforestation led to a lack of trees for building canoes, making inter-island travel impossible.

Question 5

Which resource did Mangareva lack, making trade with Pitcairn essential for tool production?

Accepted Answer

Good raw stone for tools

Question 6

What archaeological evidence suggests that Henderson Islanders were 'gluttons' for wild foods?

Accepted Answer

Huge middens containing millions of bird and fish bones, indicating heavy consumption.

Question 7

Which of the following best describes the interdependence among Mangareva, Pitcairn, and Henderson islands before the collapse of trade?

Accepted Answer

The islands traded essential resources such as stone, shell, crops, and possibly marriage partners.

Question 8

Which of the following contributed most directly to the inability of Henderson Island to sustain a permanent population?

Accepted Answer

Lack of soil, freshwater, and trees for boats.

Question 9

If the population of an island increases according to a geometric sequence and food production increases arithmetically, which equation best represents the population growth over time?

Accepted Answer

$P_n = P_0 	imes r^n$

Question 10

Which of the following is a plausible consequence of the cessation of trade among the three islands?

Accepted Answer

Resource shortages, collapse of political institutions, and cannibalism.

Question 11

Which resource was exported from Pitcairn to both Mangareva and Henderson, and was essential for tool-making?

Accepted Answer

Basalt

Question 12

What is the most likely reason why Henderson Island had a high extinction rate among its bird species?

Accepted Answer

Overhunting by humans, especially of flightless birds.

Question 13

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of interdependence in modern society, as compared to the Polynesian islands?

Accepted Answer

Nations trade oil, grains, and services, creating mutual dependence.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a reason why Pitcairn Island had a consistently low population?

Accepted Answer

Abundant fertile soil and freshwater.

Question 15

If trade between islands is modeled as a network, which of the following best describes the impact of removing one island from the network?

Accepted Answer

Resource shortages and collapse may occur due to loss of essential goods.

Question 16

Which of the following resources was sent from Mangareva to Pitcairn and Henderson as part of their trade network?

Accepted Answer

Oyster shells and crops such as taro and bananas

Question 17

Which of the following best explains the archaeological finding of oven stones from Mangareva on Henderson Island?

Accepted Answer

Trade between Mangareva and Henderson included oven stones due to Henderson's lack of suitable rock.

Question 18

Which of the following is a direct result of soil erosion on Mangareva Island?

Accepted Answer

Loss of highland productivity, resource shortages, and eventual resort to cannibalism.

Question 19

If a population grows according to $P_n = P_0 	imes r^n$ and food production grows according to $F_n = F_0 + n d$, what is the most likely long-term outcome?

Accepted Answer

Population will eventually outstrip food production, leading to shortages.

Question 20

Which of the following is a plausible reason for the archaeological evidence of bad teeth in Henderson Island sites?

Accepted Answer

Diet consisted mainly of sugary foods, except for meats.

Ecological Collapse and Human Societies: The Case of Henderson, Pitcairn, and Mangareva Islands

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