CAEC Science, Technology, and Society 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the greenhouse effect, and how does human activity contribute to it?
- The greenhouse effect is harmful in all cases; humans cause it by building greenhouses for agriculture
- The greenhouse effect is a natural process where atmospheric gases trap heat; human activity enhances it by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations through burning fossil fuels (Correct answer)
- The greenhouse effect is caused entirely by volcanic activity; humans have no influence
- The greenhouse effect refers to light pollution in urban areas
Correct answer: The greenhouse effect is a natural process where atmospheric gases trap heat; human activity enhances it by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations through burning fossil fuels
The greenhouse effect is natural, but human activities — particularly burning fossil fuels — release extra CO₂ and methane, intensifying warming beyond natural levels.
The natural greenhouse effect is essential for life — without it, Earth's average temperature would be about −18°C. Greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane, water vapour, nitrous oxide) trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere. Human activities, particularly burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), deforestation, and agriculture, have significantly increased the concentration of these gases. This enhanced greenhouse effect is driving climate change, leading to rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and more extreme weather events — issues of significant concern to Canada.
Question 2: What is CRISPR technology primarily used for in science?
- Building faster computer processors
- Editing or modifying genes in living organisms with high precision (Correct answer)
- Creating renewable energy from solar cells
- Developing new pharmaceutical drugs through chemical synthesis
Correct answer: Editing or modifying genes in living organisms with high precision
CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing tool that allows scientists to precisely modify DNA sequences in living organisms.
CRISPR-Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a powerful gene-editing technology derived from a natural immune system found in bacteria. Scientists use it to add, remove, or alter specific DNA sequences in living organisms with unprecedented precision and efficiency. Applications include treating genetic diseases (like sickle cell anemia), developing disease-resistant crops, advancing cancer research, and studying gene function. Its development won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. CRISPR raises important ethical questions about genetic modification of humans and other species.
Question 3: How does social media affect the spread of information in modern society?
- Social media has no significant impact on how information spreads
- Social media enables rapid, widespread sharing of information, but also accelerates the spread of misinformation and disinformation (Correct answer)
- Social media only shares verified, factual information
- Social media slows the spread of information compared to traditional print media
Correct answer: Social media enables rapid, widespread sharing of information, but also accelerates the spread of misinformation and disinformation
Social media is a powerful information distribution tool, but its algorithms can amplify false or misleading content as rapidly as factual information.
Social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok) have revolutionized communication, enabling anyone to share information with potentially millions of people instantly. This democratizes information but also creates serious challenges: misinformation (accidentally false content) and disinformation (deliberately false content) can spread rapidly because platforms optimize for engagement rather than accuracy. Research shows false stories spread faster than true ones on social media. Media literacy — the ability to critically evaluate sources — is an essential skill for citizens navigating the digital information environment.
Question 4: What is the primary goal of renewable energy technology development?
- To make energy more expensive so people use less of it
- To replace fossil fuels with energy sources that are sustainable and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions (Correct answer)
- To provide energy only to wealthy nations
- To eliminate all forms of electricity generation
Correct answer: To replace fossil fuels with energy sources that are sustainable and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions
Renewable energy technologies aim to meet energy needs using sustainable sources — like solar, wind, and hydro — while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Renewable energy development is driven by the need to reduce dependence on finite, polluting fossil fuels and mitigate climate change. Key technologies include: solar photovoltaics (converting sunlight to electricity), wind turbines, hydroelectric dams, geothermal energy, and tidal power. Canada already relies heavily on hydroelectricity (about 60% of its electricity). Globally, the cost of solar and wind energy has fallen dramatically, making renewables increasingly competitive with fossil fuels. Transitioning to renewables is central to Canada's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Question 5: What ethical concern is most commonly associated with artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace?
- AI making computers too slow
- AI displacing human workers from jobs, raising questions about economic inequality and the future of work (Correct answer)
- AI being too expensive for businesses to use
- AI producing results that are too accurate
Correct answer: AI displacing human workers from jobs, raising questions about economic inequality and the future of work
A major ethical concern about AI is automation-driven job displacement, which could increase economic inequality and require major social adjustments.
Artificial intelligence and automation have the potential to significantly transform the economy. While AI creates new jobs and increases productivity, it also automates tasks previously done by humans — in manufacturing, customer service, transportation, and increasingly in professional fields. This raises ethical and social concerns: Who benefits from AI-driven productivity gains? What happens to displaced workers? How do societies retrain workers for new jobs? What social safety nets are needed? These are important questions in the Science, Technology, and Society (STS) framework, which examines the relationship between technological change and human well-being.
Question 6: What is biodiversity, and why is it important?
- Biodiversity refers only to the number of plant species in a forest
- Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth — including genes, species, and ecosystems — and is crucial for ecosystem stability, food security, and medicine (Correct answer)
- Biodiversity is only relevant to tropical rainforests and does not affect Canada
- Biodiversity is the study of how species become extinct
Correct answer: Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth — including genes, species, and ecosystems — and is crucial for ecosystem stability, food security, and medicine
Biodiversity encompasses all living organisms and their interactions; it underpins ecosystem health, agricultural resilience, medical discovery, and clean air and water.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life at all levels: genetic diversity within species, species diversity (the number of different species in an area), and ecosystem diversity (the variety of habitats and ecological communities). It is vital because: ecosystems with more biodiversity are more resilient to disturbances; many medicines come from wild plants and organisms; diverse crops are more resistant to pests and disease; and species interact in complex food webs that provide clean air, water, and soil. Canada's boreal forests, Arctic tundra, and coastal waters are globally significant biodiversity hotspots.
CAEC Science, Technology, and Society 2
What is the greenhouse effect, and how does human activity contribute to it?