UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS
WORKSHEET-WEEK 12: Human Adaptation on New
Challenges in the Physical, Social and
Cultural Environment
Name: ___________________________________Date Submitted: ____________
Grade & Section: ____________________________________
I. MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY
1. Examine human responses to emerging challenges in contemporary
societies
II. OVERVIEW
A change or the process of change by which an organism or species
becomes better suited to its environment is called adaptation. This also refers to
the action or process of adapting or being adapted or the process of changing to
suit different conditions. Adaptations enhance the fitness and survival of everyone.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
Adaptation is not always easy and not something simple. An
individual or organism must be physically fit and viable at all stages of its development
evolution to be able to survive. All of organisms or even human should possess
adaptation traits and these may be:
A) Structural adaptations are physical features of an organism such as shape, body
covering, armament; and even the internal organization (e.g. a penguin has blubbered
to protect itself from freezing temperatures).
B) Behavioral adaptations are composed of inherited behavior chains and/or the
ability to learn (e.g. bears hibernate in winter to escape the cold temperature and
preserve energy).
C) Physiological adaptations permit the organism to perform special functions like
venom (in the snakes and the like), secreting slime, phototropism; and more general
functions such as growth and development, temperature regulation and ionic balance.
This means that adaptation is making adjustments to decisions and activities in
order to manage risks and capture potential opportunities brought about by any
changes in the environment such as global warming and climate change.
Humans like any other organisms and animals try to act more cautious if
changes in their environment are perceived to have a dangerous impact on their
welfare. They may try to work on new ways to meet own goals more effectively. This
action is called behavioral adaptation, risk compensation or risk homeostasis, or
rebound effect. Behavioral adaptation is defined as the things organisms do to
survive. Unlike other adaptations, these are not always heritable but are learned. An
example of this is the difference between populations of animals that live in the wild
and those that live among humans. Wild birds tend to be scared of people, but birds
that live in urban areas are often less fearful of people and they even see people as
source of food.
The ability of humans to be able to rapidly adapt to varying environment
conditions and changes has made it possible for them to survive in any regions or
places anywhere in the world. They can normally adapt to environment changes in
several ways such as:
A) Genetic change is an inherited or acquired modification in organisms that makes
them better suited to survive and a particular environment. For instance, people whose
ancestors have lived in areas that had endemic, malaria for thousands of years often
inherit some degree of immunity to this serious disease.
B) Developmental adjustments. One of the more powerful types of adjustments to
environmental stresses is a change in growth patterns and development. This occurs
in childhood and typically results in anatomical and/or physiological changes that are
mostly irreversible in adulthood. An example of the latter was the now illegal custom
in China of tightly wrapping or binding the feet of young girls with cloth in order to
hinder normal growth. While this caused permanent, crippling deformities of the foot
bones, it also resulted in extremely tiny feet which were considered to be very
attractive. Parents crippled their daughters with good intentions. Small feet would
make them more attractive marriage partners for rich important men and save them
from a life of drudgery.
C) Acclimatization and cultural practices. All other forms of adjustment to
environmental stresses are usually reversible whether they occur in childhood or
adulthood. These reversible changes are referred to as acclimatization or acclimatory
adjustment. It is useful to consider the different forms of acclimatization in terms of the
length of time over which they can occur. An example of a long-term acclimatization
is people who lose excess body fat and are very slender as a result of mild, long- term
undernourishment. If they later increase their diet to a consistent level of excessive
calories, they will very likely retain more body fat and eventually become obese.
D) Use of technology. Humans do not only interact with their environments
biologically. People invented technological aids that allowed us to occupy new
environments without having to first evolve biological adaptations to them. Houses,
clothing, and fire permitted us to live in temperate and, ultimately, arctic regions
despite the fact we still essentially have the bodies of tropical animals. Human made
technology eliminates the biological adaptive advantages of particular individuals or
groups. People wo have thicker layers of fat insulation under their skin still usually
survive better in cold climates, while people who are slender do better in hot ones.
Adaptation to Global Warming and Climate Change
Adaptation to global warming and climate change will be needed, but it will not
be as simple as it seems to be. Global warming is still unsolved issue. There are
different programs implemented to avoid global warming and climate change. These
actions seek to lessen the vulnerability of all social and biological systems to the
current and immediate issue of climate change. But, in reality is, even if emissions are
stabilized relatively soon, global warming and its effects will definitely still last many
years from now. And as human population will increase in number and more people
are living in highly arranged societies, there is a greater impact of global warming, the
more difficult adaptation will be.
Adaptation councils or committees have been formed to oversee the various
way people can adapt to the changing environment in some countries. Each councils
and committees have duties to ensure that private parties should be responsible for
managing risks to private assets and incomes, while government entities, on behalf of
the community should be responsible primarily for managing risks to public schools
and assets including the natural environment and to government service delivery, and
for creating an institutional, market and regulatory environment that support and
promotes private adaptation.
Mitigation is another term for adaptation to climate change which is defined as
technological change and substitution that reduces resource inputs and emissions per
unit of output. Several ways of mitigation include the following:
A) Using efficient energy generation technology.
B) Using more efficient energy end user technology.
C) Replacing fossil fuels with none or low carbon emitting energy
generating technology such as renewable energy sources or nuclear
energy.
D) Adopting a more sustainable natural resource management.
E) Harvesting or extraction technologies and practice.
Adaptation is a broader one than mitigation because adaptation requires a
good understanding of the natural environment and the ongoing effects of climate
change within and needs a thorough earth and environment observation.
Transnational Migration and Overseas Filipino Workers
People on earth are also facing adaptation challenges borne by the need for
mobility. Life has been moving so fast and people as well as changing residences as
rapidly. The process of geographic mobility or the change of residence of a person
from one community to another with the intention of settling temporarily or permanently
is migration. The movement is often over long distances and from one country to
another, or it can be within the immediate community. Migration can also be done by
individuals, family units or in larger groups.
There are three types of mobility or migration namely:
A) International Migration is the permanent transfer of residence from one country
to another. It is the change of residence over national boundaries. An international
migrant is someone who moves to a different country. International migrants can be
further classified as legal immigrants, illegal immigrants and refugee. Legal immigrants
are those who moved with the legal permission of the receiver nation. Illegal
immigrants are those who moved without legal permission, and refugees are those
crossed an international boundary to escape persecution.
B) Internal Migration is a change in residence within a country and refers to a change
of residence within national boundaries, such as between states, provinces, cities, or
municipalities. An internal migrant is someone who moves to a different administrative
territory.
C) Circulation Migration is a temporary movement of a person. The change in
residence is temporary due to work or study, but the migrant will definitely return in his
home community. Migration is not a one-way street. There are reasons why people
transfer from one residence to another because they just want to. Sometimes, people
relocate to other places or countries in the hope of finding a greener pasture. Some
move from an insecure land to a securer region or from places without employment
opportunities to areas which are hoped to offer better economic, political, cultural, and
social prospects. Some people move to places even if they do not want t, given the
chance, but because they need to.
A new form of migration is termed as transnational migration. These are the
people who having migrated from one nation-state to another live their lives across
borders, participating simultaneously in social relations that embed them in more than
one nation-state are called transnational migrants. Not all migrants can be considered
as transnational migrants, and not all who take part in transnational practices do so all
the time. Most migrants are occasional transnational activists.
They more focused on their countries of origin while at others they are more
involved in their countries of reception. Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is a person
of Filipino origin who works and lives outside the country. This term applies to Filipinos
who are abroad indefinitely as citizens or as permanent residents of a different country
and to those Filipino citizens who are abroad for a limited, definite period as workers
or as students.
What are the effects on family of migrants?
Work migration is increasing globally. Children of migrant workers have grown
up not knowing both of their parents and have experienced long term absence of
parents which is the reason why there is very little affection between them. Many family
relationships are broken as one parent emigrates which causes a larger proportion of
children growing up with divorced or separated parents.
Some families experiencing these effects on family of migrants want to avoid
getting into this situation; some Filipinos do not have much choice because of very
limited job opportunities in the country. Filipinos believe that they and their family will
have a bigger chance of having a better future if they work abroad. To keep in touch
with their family, OFW can use video chat, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, Twitter,
and the like to keep in touch with their family.
Activity: Draw pictures that show the effects of climate change. Give a simple one to
two-lines descriptions for each image. (Things Needed: Separate sheets of bond
paper, Pencil, Crayons)
Rubric:
Content---10 points
Clarity------5 points
Neatness--5 points
Total--------20 points
ASSESSMENT
Multiple Choice. Read very carefully the questions below and choose the letter that corresponds to
your answer. Write the CAPITAL LETTER of the correct answer on the space provided before each
item.
_________1. The process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited
to its environment.
A. Adaptation B. Climate change C. Migration D. Mitigation
_________2. Adaptive traits can be:
A. Behavioral, structural, and physiological B. Cultural, structural, and physiological
C. Physiological, cultural, and behavioral D. Structural, cultural, and behavioral
_________3. A technological change and substitution that reduces resource inputs and
emissions per unit of output.
A. Adaptation B. Climate change C. Migration D. Mitigation
_________4. The process of geographic mobility or the change of residence of a person from one
community to another with the intention of setting temporarily or permanently.
A. Migration B. Mobilization C. Transnationalism D. Urbanization
_________5. This kind of migration exists when a person is moved against his will such as slaves, or
when the move is initiated because of external factors like natural disaster or civil war.
A. Circulatory migration B. Force Migration C. Internal Migration D. International Migration
_________6. All of the following are example of mitigation, EXCEPT:
A. Using a more efficient energy generation technology.
B. Using more efficient energy end user technology.
C. Conducting local or regional assessment of sensitivity to environmental impacts.
D. Replacing fossil fuels with none or low carbon emitting energy.
__________7. Those persons who having migrated from one nation-state to another live their lives
across borders, participating simultaneously in social relations that embed them in more than one
nation-state.
A. Illegal Migrants B. Legal Migrants C. Refugees D. Transnational Migrants
__________8. Those people who moved with the legal permission of the receiver nation.
A. Adaptation B. Climate change C. Migration D. Mitigation
__________9. This refers to a change of residence within national boundaries such as between
states, provinces, cities, or municipalities.
A. Circulatory migration B. Force Migration C. Internal Migration D. International Migration
_________10. Persons who moves to a different administrative territory.
A. Illegal Migrants B. Legal Migrants C. Internal Migrants D. Refugees
_________11. The following are the challenges faced by transnational migrants, EXCEPT:
A. Family Disruption
B. Access to pensions and health insurance
C. Loss of sense of identity and belongingness
D. Making clear and tangible policies to address the issues
_________12. The positive effects of transnational migrations are:
A. Personal enrichment and development B. Enhanced lifestyle opportunities
C. Improved language abilities D. All of the Above
_________13. It refers to the adjustments made regarding decisions and activities in order
to manage risks and capture potential opportunities brought about by any
UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS
Senior High School
changes in the environment.
A. Adaptation B. Development C. Evolution D. Environmental Challenges
________14. All of the following are ways on how human adapt to environmental changes, EXCEPT:
A. Genetic Change B. Developmental Adjustments
C. Acclimatization and cultural practices D. Use of obsolete technology
________15. It includes seamen and others who work outside the country but are neither permanent
nor temporary residents of the country.
A. Illegal Migrants B. Internal Migrants C. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) D. Refugees
IV. REFERENCES
Balena, Ederlina D, et.al New Challenges to Human Adaptation and Social Change
(pp.186-211), Understanding Society and Culture
https://www.google.com/search?q=RUBRICS+IN+POSTER+SLOGAN Retrieved October 23,2020
https://www.google.com/search?q=meaning+of+adaptation Retrieved October 24,2020
https://www2.palomar.edu/anthro/animal/default.htm Examples of Human Adaptation Retrieved
October 25,2020
UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS
Senior High School
