Global issues have no single right answer. People see them differently because of their values, experience and culture, and a good thinker can explain why.
A perspective is a point of view shaped by where someone lives, what they value and what they have experienced. An argument is a claim supported by reasons and evidence. To compare perspectives, ask: Who holds this view? What do they value? What are they leaving out?
Judge a source on author and expertise, purpose, bias, evidence, date and whether other sources corroborate it. Watch for fallacies: ad hominem (attacking the person), straw man (distorting the opposing view), false dilemma (only two options) and slippery slope (unproven chain of consequences).
A perspective is best described as:
An argument consists of a claim supported by:
“Ignore her proposal: she failed her exams.” This is an example of:
“Either we ban all cars or the planet is doomed.” This is a:
A report on tobacco safety paid for by a tobacco company may show:
For reliable data on global health, the best source is likely:
A claim appears in 5 independent sources and 3 of them agree.
What percentage of the sources agree?
Enter an exact answer, without rounding.A student writing an essay in 2024 used a report published in 2004.
How old was the data when the essay was written?
Enter an exact answer, without rounding.To corroborate a source, you:
A straw man argument:
Which question best explores a perspective?
A slippery slope argument claims that:
A recent source is useful when:
Climate change is a global issue because greenhouse gases mix in the atmosphere, so every country’s emissions affect everyone.
The greenhouse effect keeps Earth warm: gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane trap heat. Burning fossil fuels, deforestation and farming have increased these gases. Atmospheric CO₂ has risen from about 280 ppm before industrialisation to over 420 ppm. Effects include rising sea levels, heatwaves, droughts, floods and loss of biodiversity.
Mitigation reduces emissions: renewable energy, energy efficiency, protecting forests, public transport. Adaptation helps people cope: sea walls, drought-resistant crops, early-warning systems. The Paris Agreement (2015) aims to limit warming to well below 2 °C, pursuing 1.5 °C. Perspectives differ: low-lying islands want rapid cuts, while developing economies stress their right to develop.
Which is a greenhouse gas?
Which is mitigation?
Which is adaptation?
The Paris Agreement aims to limit warming to well below:
Why do some developing countries resist fast emission cuts?
Deforestation increases atmospheric CO₂ because:
CO₂ has risen from 280 ppm to 420 ppm.
By how many ppm has it risen?
Enter an exact answer, without rounding.CO₂ has risen from 280 ppm to 420 ppm.
What is the percentage increase?
Enter an exact answer, without rounding.The main human cause of rising CO₂ is:
A sea wall is an example of:
Which is a likely effect of global warming?
Why is climate change a global issue?
Which is NOT a way to cut emissions?
Some countries and people are far richer than others. Understanding how we measure this, and why, is the first step to asking what should be done.
GDP per capita = total GDP ÷ population. The Human Development Index (HDI) combines life expectancy, education and income. The Gini coefficient measures inequality from 0 (everyone equal) to 1 (one person has everything). Absolute poverty is not being able to afford basic needs.
Approaches include aid (grants, loans, emergency relief), education and health programmes, fair trade, microfinance (small loans to start businesses) and debt relief. Each has critics: aid can create dependency, while trade rules may favour wealthy economies. Evaluate who benefits, who pays and how long the effect lasts.
The Human Development Index combines life expectancy, education and:
A Gini coefficient of 0 means:
Microfinance provides:
A common criticism of aid is that it can:
Why can GDP per capita be misleading?
Absolute poverty means being unable to afford:
A country has a GDP of $500 billion and 50 million people.
What is GDP per capita, in $?
Enter an exact answer, without rounding.The richest fifth of households earn 50% of income and the poorest fifth earn 5%.
How many times more do the richest fifth earn?
Enter an exact answer, without rounding.The Gini coefficient measures:
Fair trade aims to:
Which is a health indicator?
Debt relief means:
Which is a possible long-term way to reduce poverty?
Questions from every topic in this course. Pick an answer for each one, then hit Check My Answers.
The strongest evaluation of a source considers:
A perspective is:
Corroboration means:
A policy that helps both mitigation and the economy is:
The main human cause of recent climate change is:
Climate adaptation means:
The best way to judge a poverty reduction programme is to:
The Human Development Index (HDI) combines:
Microfinance provides: