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Comprehension Quiz

9 questions

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According to the researchers, what is the main problem with modern stress compared to ancestral stress?

Modern stress is much weaker than ancestral stress

Modern stress comes from more dangerous situations

Modern stress is constant and doesn't have an "off" switch

Modern stress only affects our physical health

What does Colin Shaw mean when he says there's a "paradox" in modern life?

We have created wealth but destroyed all natural environments

We've created wealth and comfort but also harmful effects on our health

We have good healthcare but people still get sick

We live longer but are less happy than our ancestors

According to the article, how long do longer-term genetic adaptations typically take?

A few years to decades

One to five generations

About one thousand years

Tens to hundreds of thousands of years

What does Karin Broberg compare humans to in terms of adaptability?

Lions and other predators

Rats and cockroaches

Neanderthals and ancient humans

Plants and trees

What environmental factors does the article mention as new stressors for humans?

Only air pollution and traffic noise

Just artificial light and social media

City noise, pollution, microplastics, processed foods, and sedentary lifestyles

Only pesticides and industrial chemicals

What solution do the researchers suggest for dealing with modern stress?

Waiting for humans to evolve resistance to stress

Changing our relationship with nature and treating it as health intervention

Moving everyone back to hunter-gatherer societies

Developing better medicines for chronic diseases

What evidence do researchers cite for humans struggling to adapt?

Only rising anxiety disorders

Just increasing life expectancy

Falling birth rates, rising chronic diseases, and declining sperm count

Only problems with processed foods

According to Shaw, why is letting natural selection solve the stress problem not a good idea?

Because it would take hundreds of generations and kill many people

Because natural selection doesn't work on humans

Because we can't predict what traits would be selected

Because stress isn't actually harmful to human health

Which statement best summarizes the main message of this article?

Modern technology is completely harmful and should be abandoned

Humans are evolving quickly enough to handle all modern challenges

All health problems today are caused by environmental factors

Human biology hasn't adapted to modern life, causing health problems that need environmental solutions

Please answer all questions to see your score

Discussion Questions

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Do you believe that modern life is really more stressful than life in the past, or are we just more aware of stress now? What would you say to someone who argues that our ancestors faced much worse dangers?

Do you agree that spending time in nature should be treated as a medical treatment? Why do you think many people resist the idea of "nature as medicine"?

The researchers suggest that humans are like "rats or cockroaches" in terms of adaptability. Do you find this comparison flattering or insulting? What does this comparison tell us about human survival?

Do you think it's fair to blame health problems on the environment when people also make personal choices about diet, exercise, and lifestyle? How much responsibility should individuals take versus society?

If you had to choose between living in a modern city with all its conveniences but constant stress, or in a more natural environment with fewer conveniences but less stress, which would you pick? What would you say to convince someone to make the opposite choice?

My Notes

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Are We Evolving Too Slowly for Our Modern World?

December 21, 2025·5 min read·Environmental·B1