Weekly Quiz: Academic Overload, Student Journalists, and Stress Signals

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const title = “Weekly Quiz: Academic Overload, Student Journalists, and Stress Signals”; const date = “December 20, 2025”; constant data = [
{
image: “https://walrus-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/img/WEB_Q26A-NickHune-Brown_NOV25-1536×1024.jpg”,
title: “If Chatbots Can Replace Writers, It’s Because We Made Writing Replaceable”,
url: “https://thewalrus.ca/if-chatbots-can-replace-writers-its-because-we-made-writing-replaceable/ “,
question: “As universities increasingly reward volume over depth, academic publishing now operates at an industrial scale. As of 2022, approximately how many academic journal articles were being published worldwide each year?”,
options: [
“About 500,000”,
“About 1 million”,
“More than 5 million”,
“More than 15 million”,
]answer: “More than 5 million”, correct: “The desire to establish objective indicators has led to a catastrophic overproduction of journal articles. As of 2022, more than 5 million articles are published (up 22 percent from 2018), and yet back in 2007, researchers found that 50 percent of articles were read only by the author and their editors.”, false: “The desire to establish objective metrics has led to a catastrophic overproduction of journal articles. As of 2022, more than 5 million articles are published (up 22 percent from 2018), but back in 2007, researchers found that 50 percent of articles are read only by the author and their editors.”, }, { title: “When it matters most, student journalists emerge,” url: “https://thewalrus.ca/when-it-matters-most-student-journalists-are-showing-up/”, question: “Student journalists at Carleton University found inconsistencies between official statements and campus actions to prevent protests. What did their reporting reveal about the campus courtyard fencing?”, options: [
“The fencing was installed after a previous protest caused property damage.”,
“The fencing was erected to prevent a possible encampment.”,
“The fencing was planned months earlier as part of larger renovations.”,
“The fencing was requested by student unions concerned about safety.”,
]answer: “The fence was installed to prevent possible congestion of the camp.”, correct: “In September 2024, student journalists Elissa Mendez and Cassandra Bellefeuille wrote for Carleton University's student newspaper, The Charlatanbroke the big news: The university had fenced off the campus to prevent the encampment, contrary to the president's initial claims that it was set up for maintenance purposes. According to Mendez and Bellefeuille, the fence was installed on April 29, the same day a pro-Palestinian camp opened at the University of Ottawa. Their story quotes the president of Carleton University speaking at a senate meeting that fall as saying, “I make no apologies for making this decision. The possibility of camping on our campus was a real possibility at the time,” and that camping on campus would be “dangerous” for both protesters and community members. newspaper, Charlatanbroke the big news: The university had fenced off the campus to prevent the encampment, contrary to the president's initial claims that it was set up for maintenance purposes. According to Mendez and Bellefeuille, the fence was installed on April 29, the same day a pro-Palestinian camp opened at the University of Ottawa. Their story quotes Carleton University's president speaking at a senate meeting that fall as saying, “I make no apologies for making this decision. The possibility of an encampment on our campus was a real possibility at the time,” and that an on-campus encampment would be “dangerous” for both protesters and community members.”, }, { image: “https://walrus-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/img/WEB_YearEndPolls_DEC25-1536×1024.jpg”, title: “The numbers behind Poiievres' leadership dilemma”, url: “https://thewalrus.ca/the-numbers-behind-poiievres-leadership-dilemma/”, question: “Until Mark Carney has solid approval ratings across much of the country, with one region standing out as a warning sign for the Liberal coalition, especially given its importance to recent electoral successes. In which province does Carney have a zero rating, causing alarm among liberal strategists?”, options: [
“Alberta”,
“Quebec”,
“British Columbia”,
“Saskatchewan”,
]answer: British Columbia, correct: “The data over the past year shows that Carney personally remains the one holding things together as his own numbers dwarf those of his party. The picture is more complex in British Columbia, where the Liberals won a healthy twenty seats in April. Last month, a Leger poll showed Carney's net rating of +11 in the province, but those numbers have fallen since then, with 46 per cent approving of Carney's government and the same proportion disapproving. Net zero. approval in a province so important to the Liberals' fortunes should raise alarm bells at party headquarters.”, incorrect: “Data over the past year shows that Carney personally remains the one holding things together as his own numbers dwarf those of his party. The picture is more complex in British Columbia – where the Liberals won a healthy twenty seats in April, according to a Leger poll, Carney's net rating in the province was +11, but those numbers have fallen since then: 46 per cent approve of Carney's government, albeit only just. as many do not approve. A zero approval rate in a province so important to Liberal success should set off alarm bells at party headquarters.”, }, { title: “Is everyone else grinding their teeth too?”, url: “https://thewalrus.ca/is-everyone-else-grinding-their-teeth-too/”, question: “Jaw pain isn't always caused by stress alone. unintentionally affect muscle movement. Which class of medications is associated with increased jaw clenching or teeth grinding?”, options: [
“Beta blockers”,
“Opioid painkillers”,
“Benzodiazepines”,
“Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors”,
]answer: “Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors”, correct: “A 2024 report found that more than 16 per cent of Canadians received antidepressants from community pharmacies in the past year. One class of these antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which maintain the availability of serotonin in the brain: Instead of serotonin being reabsorbed by nerve cells, as it normally does, the medication blocks that reabsorption and keeps the neurotransmitter active longer, resulting in improved mood. These medications can be critical for people who take them to show up for work, perform daily tasks, and care for themselves and their families. It’s at least worth talking to the doctor who prescribed it.” False: “A 2024 report found that more than 16 per cent of Canadians obtained antidepressants from community pharmacies in the past year. One class of these antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which work by maintaining the availability of serotonin in the brain: instead of the drug blocking serotonin from being reabsorbed by nerve cells, as it normally does. These medications can be critical for people who take them to show up for work, perform daily tasks, and care for themselves and their families. But recent research suggests that these antidepressants may also increase jaw clenching or grinding. The last thing you should do is talk to the doctor who prescribed it.”, }, ];

Fast Weekly Quiz: Academic Overload, Student Journalists, and Stress Signals first appeared on Walrus.

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