Question

the state of california, often considered a hearth of environmental laws, will be the first state to ban plastic straws. which of the following statements best describes the likely spread of this environmental practice?
a this practice will likely spread via hierarchical diffusion when the president of the united states signs an executive order banning plastic straws in all states.
b this practice will likely spread via social media and stimulus diffusion when other states enact identical laws banning plastic straws.
c as regional news organizations report on the ban, this practice will likely spread through contagious diffusion only to western states adjacent to california.
d strong lobbying by the plastics industry will likely curtail the diffusion of the ban, and this practice will be limited to california.
e similar environmental laws will likely spread through stimulus diffusion to other states via political activism.

Explanation:

California's ban on plastic - straws is likely to inspire other states through political activism. Stimulus diffusion occurs when an idea in one place inspires a similar but not identical response in another place. Political activism can drive the spread of environmental laws as activists in other states may push for similar legislation after seeing California's action. Hierarchical diffusion (A) is less likely as there is no indication of a top - down federal mandate. Social media can play a role in awareness but stimulus diffusion via political activism is a more comprehensive explanation than just social media and stimulus diffusion (B). Contagious diffusion to only adjacent states (C) is too limiting. While lobbying by the plastics industry (D) may be a factor, it is not the most likely description of the spread of the environmental practice.

Answer:

E. Similar environmental laws will likely spread through stimulus diffusion to other states via political activism.