Weekly Quiz: Epigraphs, Climate Change, and the Art of Conversation

1 2 const title = "Epigraphs, Climate Change, and the Art of Conversation"; const date = "October 12, 2024"; const data = [ { image: "https://walrus-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/img/WAL_Web-BC-Kopecky_Sep24-001-scaled.jpg", title: "British Columbia’s Election Is a Bellwether for Climate Policy", url: "https://thewalrus.ca/the-dark-cloud-over-british-columbias-election/", question: "British Columbia is gearing up for a high-stakes election, one which may just be a bellwether for climate policy. The BC Conservatives have been gaining momentum in the race. What is party leader John Rustad’s stance on climate change?", options: [ "He believes climate change is a natural phenomenon unrelated to human activity", "He claims that climate change is a hoax created by foreign interests to weaken Canadian industries", "He denies the importance of carbon emissions in climate change", "He actively supports aggressive government policies to combat climate change", ], answer: "He denies the importance of carbon emissions in climate change", correct: "“How is it we have convinced carbon-based beings that carbon is the problem?” John Rustad quipped on Jordan Peterson’s podcast. Rustad proudly and consistently denies climate change, blaming forestry’s collapse on environmental policies designed to save what’s left.", incorrect: "“How is it we have convinced carbon-based beings that carbon is the problem?” John Rustad quipped on Jordan Peterson’s podcast. Rustad proudly and consistently denies climate change, blaming forestry’s collapse on environmental policies designed to save what’s left.", }, { image: "https://walrus-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/img/Hylton_December2024_Kim-1800.jpg", title: "Did Canada Betray Afghanistan’s Female Soccer Players?", url: "https://thewalrus.ca/left-on-the-battlefield/", question: "During the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, Noor, along with other female soccer players in Afghanistan, received letters promising asylum in Canada. What ultimately happened with the visa letters she received?", options: [ "They provided temporary safety but delayed her departure", "The letters were deemed fraudulent by the authorities", "The letters were rendered worthless during the evacuation chaos", "They were later revoked by the Canadian government", ], answer: "The letters were rendered worthless during the evacuation chaos", correct: "The Canadian letters that Noor and hundreds of others had received were seen as tickets into Kabul’s airport, onto an evacuation flight, and onward to safety in Canada. They stated exactly that. But as the chaos of the withdrawal continued, unbeknownst to players and their families, the letters were rendered worthless. Some who held the documents were turned away at the airport or were forced to go underground. Three years later, many of them remain in hiding.", incorrect: "The Canadian letters that Noor and hundreds of others had received were seen as tickets into Kabul’s airport, onto an evacuation flight, and onward to safety in Canada. They stated exactly that. But as the chaos of the withdrawal continued, unbeknownst to players and their families, the letters were rendered worthless. Some who held the documents were turned away at the airport or were forced to go underground. Three years later, many of them remain in hiding.", }, { image: "https://walrus-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/img/Isen_Epigraphs-1800-735x490.jpg", title: "What’s the Point of Epigraphs Anyway?", url: "https://thewalrus.ca/whats-the-point-of-epigraphs-anyway/", question: "The value of epigraphs—the short quotes that preface a book or chapter and invoke its theme—has sparked debate among writers and readers. What is the central argument Tajja Isen, The Walrus contributing writer, makes regarding epigraphs?", options: [ "Epigraphs should never be included in books", "Epigraphs only work if they benefit the reader’s experience", "Epigraphs are becoming obsolete in modern literature", "The legal and financial complications of using epigraphs outweigh their value", ], answer: "Epigraphs only work if they benefit the reader’s experience", correct: "According to Tajja Isen, the right epigraph should focus on its true beneficiary—the reader. “Do they ever work?” is only the first question. The second, more important one, Isen contends, is: “Work for whom?”", incorrect: "According to Tajja Isen, the right epigraph should focus on its true beneficiary—the reader. “Do they ever work?” is only the first question. The second, more important one, Isen contends, is: “Work for whom?”", }, { image: "https://walrus-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/img/Williams_Barczyk_Talk_1800_02.jpg", title: "How to Talk to People When You Live Alone", url: "https://thewalrus.ca/how-to-talk-to-people-when-you-live-alone/", question: "In an increasingly distracted world, many people multitask even when carrying out a conversation. What does philosopher Byung-Chul Han argue about the act of multitasking?", options: [ "It is a primitive survival technique that makes it harder to create meaningful connections", "It enhances our communication skills by allowing us to engage with multiple people at once", "It leads to a decline in cognitive function and decreased overall brain health", "It has no impact on our ability to focus and is encouraged to increase productivity", ], answer: " It is a primitive survival technique that makes it harder to create meaningful connections", correct: "Byung-Chul Han makes a good point about multitasking, notes writer Ian Williams. It is not an advanced quality: it “does not represent civilizational progress. . . . Multitasking is commonplace among wild animals. It is an attentive technique indispensable for survival in the wilderness. . . . An animal busy with eating must also attend to other tasks. For example, it must hold rivals away from its prey. It must constantly be on the lookout, lest it be eaten while eating.”", incorrect: "Byung-Chul Han makes a good point about multitasking, notes writer Ian Williams. It is not an advanced quality: it “does not represent civilizational progress. . . . Multitasking is commonplace among wild animals. It is an attentive technique indispensable for survival in the wilderness. . . . An animal busy with eating must also attend to other tasks. For example, it must hold rivals away from its prey. It must constantly be on the lookout, lest it be eaten while eating.”", }, ]; The post Weekly Quiz: Epigraphs, Climate Change, and the Art of Conversation first appeared on The Walrus.