Sociology Chapter 8

A college graduate examines her income and wealth in relation to others. She is interested in . a. Social differentiation b. Social stratification c. Social equality d. Social change

refers to the process by which different statuses develop in any group, organization, or society. a. Social differentiation b. Social stratification c. Social inequality d. Social mobility

A relatively fixed, hierarchical arrangement in society by which groups have different access to resources, power, and perceived social worth is called . a. social differentiation b. social stratification c. social inequality d. social status

. Which of the following mostly likely happened to the Joneses if they were in the top 1 percent of earners in 2009? a. They saw a decrease in income. b. They saw a large tax increase. c. They saw little or no decline in net worth. d. None of the above.

What is the difference between stratification and differentiation? a. Differentiation is based on different social status, stratification is not. b. Differentiation is not necessarily unequal, but stratification is. c. Stratification develops in many groups and organizations, but differentiation is less common. d. Stratification exists in modern societies, and differentiation exists in previous societies.

Which of the following is true about stratification systems? a. Most societies do not have true stratification systems. b. Most societies share the same amount of complexity in their stratification systems. c. Stratification systems are somewhat unusual in modern societies. d. Stratification systems vary in degree and complexity of stratification.

The Smiths compare their wealth, income, and lifestyle to others in their neighborhood. Which of the following are they comparing? a. Life chances b. Ascribed statuses c. Achieved statuses d. Class systems

Which of the following is not one of the groups within a feudal system? a. nobles b. priesthood c. commoners d. doctors

The feudal societies of Europe in the Middle Ages are an example of a(n) system of stratification. a. estate b. caste c. class d. socialist

In a caste system, one's place in the stratification system is a(n) status. a. ascribed b. achieved c. temporary d. ambiguous

What type of system did black workers experience during South Africa's period of Apartheid? a. estate b. caste c. class d. socialist

In a caste system, one's place in the stratification system is an status; in a class system, one's place in the stratification system is an status. a. achieved; ascribed b. master; achieved c. ascribed; master d. ascribed, achieved

Class systems differ from caste systems in that one's status in a class system may be , to some extent; while in a caste system it is not. a. ascribed b. achieved c. economic d. social

The position one holds in relation to the economic, political, social and cultural resources in a society is called one's . a. social achievement b. social organization c. social class d. cohort

Which of the following is false regarding social class? a. Social class shapes one's access to resources in society. b. It is not possible to directly observe social class. c. It is not possible for people to change whatever social class they are born into. d. People in the same social class share similar opportunities.

. Max Weber called the opportunities that people have in common by virtue of belonging to a particular class . a. strata indicators b. social attributes c. life chances d. social anomalies

If an individual discovers he has certain opportunities to succeed, he is examining his . a. life chances b. social setting c. ascribed status d. status symbols

People at a party are comparing clothing, automobiles, and personal possessions. They are comparing elements of . a. social class b. social status c. social standing d. social caste

Which of these statements about social class is false? a. Social class may be observed in the everyday habit of a person. b. The social class one is born into has enormous consequences for one's life. c. Social class is personal and individual, not social structural. d. Social class is major determinant of life chances.

What do sociologists use to measure social class? a. education level b. occupation c. income d. all of these

John shows off his new car and clothes to other students. He is exhibiting an example of . a. class consciousness b. conspicuous consumption c. social differentiation d. social stratification

Which of these statements is the best description of social class in the United States? a. There is a very simple class structure: a very few wealthy landowners and the majority of the population having no property. b. The social class system is very simple because throughout society there is relative equality. c. Social class status is determined almost exclusively by the occupation that one has. d. The U.S. system is elaborate; it could be depicted by a ladder with a different social class at each rung.

What is the sociological term for the process by which people end up in any given position in the stratification system? a. stratification achievement b. ascription c. status attainment d. goal orientation

In the United States a. it is very common for people to start out poor and yet achieve great wealth. b. most people live their entire lives as members of a social class very close to the one they were born into. c. a person's individual achievements have no effect on their social class. d. most individuals move down the social class ladder during their lifetimes.

As a women, Jane is ___________ . a. more likely to receive subprime mortgages b. less likely to receive subprime mortgages c. unaffected by subprime mortgages d. none of the above

Beth a sociology major is trying to determine what she owns and how much she owes in debt. From this she will be able to determine her . a. class position b. wealth c. income d. prestige

Jan is adding up her wages earned, child support received, and interest. She is calculating her . a. income b. wealth c. assets d. tax receipts

. income is defined as the midpoint of all household incomes. a. Mean b. Median c. Modal d. Measured

. Occupational prestige ratings a. are subjective evaluations of the value of jobs. b. are determined by sociologists who measure income and education requirements for the jobs. c. are not related to overall socioeconomic status. d. are based on economic potential.

. How is the measure of occupational prestige determined? a. Employers are asked how prestigious they believe their businesses are. b. Employees are asked to evaluate the prestige of their jobs. c. A nationwide sample of people are asked to evaluate a series of different jobs. d. Jobs are ranked according to how much they are paid.

In 2007, in order for a person to be in the top 400 wealthiest people in the U.S. one had to have more than in wealth. a. $1 million b. $100 million c. $1 billion d. $100 billion

The Bakers are part of the upper class. Which of the following scenarios are they most likely to fit? a. They achieved their wealth. b. They were born in the middle class c. They are a family who have held wealth for generations. d. None of the above.

Most of the wealth represented by the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest people and families in the U.S. a. has been earned in the oil industry. b. is inherited. c. belongs to major athletes. d. is earned by an individual during their lifetime.

. The Parkers are in the upper class and earned all their wealth in the last year from a very successful business. The Parkers are considered part of the: a. upper-upper class. b. nouveau riche. c. achieved class. d. ascribed caste.

Which of the following does not represent a reason why "middle class" is difficult to define? a. A very large portion, with widely varying lifestyles and resources, consider themselves middle class. b. Being middle class tends to mean more than just economic status. c. Calling oneself middle class is the norm in the U.S. d. The middle class is a very large and diverse group.

In the United States, the lower class a. has little formal education. b. is disproportionately people of color and women. c. includes the working poor. d. all of these

The urban underclass differs from others among the lower class in a number of ways. Which of the following is not one of these reasons? a. The urban underclass have no means of economic support. b. The working poor are more likely to engage in illegal activities. c. The urban underclass is very likely to be dependent on public assistance programs. d. The urban underclass consists of mostly recent immigrants.

According to William Julius Wilson, the "underclass" is a. the result of structural transformations in the economy. b. the product of a welfare system that is so generous that going to work is not an attractive option. c. actually comprised of unemployed individuals from rural, more than urban, areas. d. mostly found in the suburbs of big cities.

Sociologists who analyze class using a conflict perspective a. see class basically as a continuum. b. argue that class is basically a matter of what individuals possess in terms of income and prestige. c. see class as defined by the relationship of the classes to the larger system of economic production. d. base their views on the early work of Emile Durkheim who pointed out the dysfunctional consequences of division of labor.

. The sociological perspective that defines classes in terms of their structural relationship to other classes and their relationship to the economic system is the . a. functionalist perspective b. conflict perspective c. symbolic interactionist perspective d. exchange perspective

According to Marxian conflict theory, as capitalism progresses a. the professional-managerial class will become part of the elite. b. many of those in the middle class will drop into the working class as they are pushed out of managerial jobs into working class jobs. c. corporate mergers will redistribute wealth from being in the hands of the few to society's "havenots." d. the classes will become polarized with no overlap or mobility.

While Marx predicted a specific set of events, which of the following actually occurred? a. The middle class was pushed into the working class. b. The middle class remains fragile while the upper and lower classes grow. c. The upper class has been overthrown by the working class. d. The working class is growing in size and power.

Which of the following is false regarding social class in the United States? a. Social classes are becoming more polarized with the wealthy increasing their wealth and the middle class stagnating. b. Rising debt among the middle class has increased inequality between the classes. c. The lower class has little power to control their working environment. d. Tax policies favor the middle and lower classes.

When researchers calculate a basketball star's net worth they are measuring the star's . a. wealth or net worth b. wages and income c. income and wealth d. total value

One percent of the U.S. population controls approximately of the total net wealth in the nation. a. one-third b. one-quarter c. one-half d. two-thirds

The most important predictor of Bobby's class location is . a. his income b. his wealth c. his inheritance d. his debt

About eighteen percent of Americans have zero or negative wealth, meaning a. their debt exceeds their net worth. b. their debt exceeds their annual income. c. their tax burden is more than double their income. d. their education debt exceeds their potential income

Class inequality in the United States have been growing due to all of the following, except a. the recent economic restructuring. b. the loss of savings and income. c. global economic changes d. Americans have unrealistic expectations of wealth.

What does economic restructuring refer to? a. the decline in manufacturing jobs in the U.S. b. the process of consumers consolidating their debt c. a shift in the percentages of Americans in each social class d. the passing of wealth from one generation to the next

As of 2008 the pattern of home foreclosures in the U.S. is a. that foreclosures are occurring at the same rate in all neighborhoods. b. middle-class neighborhoods have been able to avoid foreclosures. c. that greater the proportion of Blacks in a neighborhood the higher the rate of foreclosure. d. five foreclosures for Black families for every one foreclosure among Whites.

. Who benefits most from U.S. tax policies? a. the wealthy b. the poor c. the government d. corporations

The Black middle class a. does not experience racism. b. earns wages equal to those earned by the white middle class. c. is becoming more like the model minority. d. continues to experience segregation.

Regarding race and class, which of the following is true? a. Blacks have less wealth than whites, Asians, and Latinos. b. Latinos have been unable to move into the middle class. c. Racial minorities do not aspire to be part of the middle class. d. The race-class debate has largely been concluded.

How is the pattern of wealth distribution in the U.S. influenced by race? a. Asians are a "model minority." b. Black families have lower levels of wealth than white families. c. Discriminatory practices in banking and housing have resulted in inequality of wealth, even after several generations. d. The patterns of wealth distribution in the U.S. is not influenced by race.

In recent years, both the African American and Latino middle class have expanded because of a. increased access to education and middle-class occupations for people of color. b. increased intermarriage rates with White Anglos. c. legislation that has brought an end to de facto discrimination. d. a significant upturn in the U.S. economy during the past decade.

In the United States, the concept of the "model minority" a. is based on a stereotype of Asian Americans being the most successful minority group in the United States. b. takes into account the successes of other minority groups. c. changes based on the experiences of racial groups. d. hides the successes of whites

The idea that Asian Americans are a "model minority": a. is accurate. b. obscures obstacles to success. c. underestimates the contributions of other minorities. d. acknowledges poverty among Asian American groups.

In regards to the intersection of race and class, Black Americans a. in the middle class are not segregated from whites as are poorer Blacks. b. are more likely to be working class than are whites. c. are more likely to be middle class than working class. d. look more like Asian Americans that Whites.

Measured by their average education and income levels, most women would be considered a. poor. b. working class. c. middle class. d. upper class.

Which of the following is true about the effects of gender on stratification? a. Based on their own income and education levels, most women would be considered middle-class b. The median income for women is far below the national median income level. c. When women have as much education as men, they have jobs that pay as well. d. Women are more likely than men to work in upper-middle class jobs.

Which of the following is most accurate if Bobby is under the age 10? a. He is less likely to be poor because he is under the age of ten and teens make up most of youth poverty. b. He has the same chance of being poor because all age groups are equally likely to be poor. c. He is more likely to be poor because children are the age group most likely to be poor. d. He is less likely to be poor because the elderly are the age group most likely to be poor.

The United States is assumed by many to be a , a system in which one's status is based on accomplishments. a. democracy b. pluralist society c. meritocracy d. status attainment society

Unlike his father, Johnny has been able to go to college and enter a high paying profession. He has experienced mobility. a. intergenerational b. intragenerational c. extragenerational d. co-generational

Which of the following is an example of intergenerational mobility? a. A daughter rises above the class of her parents. b. A man's class status changes due to a bad investment. c. A woman's class status changes as a result of business success. d. After having children, a couple's class status drops.

Social mobility occurring within a generation is called mobility. a. intergenerational b. intragenerational c. extragenerational d. co-generational

Which of the following is false about social mobility in the United States today? a. In the U.S. anyone who works hard enough can get ahead. b. Social mobility occurs in the U.S., but less often than the myth asserts and over shorter distances from one class to another. c. Most people remain in their class of origin. d. Social mobility is greatly influenced by education.

Which of these statements about social mobility in the U.S. is true? a. Social mobility is most influenced by the characteristics of individuals. b. Being born into a particular generation may significantly influence chances for social mobility. c. Social mobility within the U.S. is virtually impossible. d. Most people remain in the same social class as their parents.

The perception that a class structure exists and the feeling of shared identification with others in one's class is referred to as . a. false consciousness b. class consciousness c. normative consciousness d. stratified consciousness

Which of these statements about class consciousness in the U.S. is false? a. Americans do not tend to be very conscious of social class. b. In the U.S. the importance placed on individualism diminishes the existence of class consciousness. c. There is widespread belief that everyone has access to the same types of material comforts. d. Despite the absence of class consciousness, most Americans are aware that there is little upward social

When members of the subordinated classes internalize the views of the dominant class and justify inequality, Karl Marx termed this . a. false consciousness b. class consciousness c. normative consciousness d. stratified consciousness

What was the basis of the definitions of class identified by Karl Marx? a. level of education b. relationship to means of production c. ownership of agricultural land d. amount of net wealth

Which of these groups best corresponds to the "lumpenproletariat" identified by Marx as subdivision of the working class? a. managers and administrators b. workers c. the homeless and permanently poor d. the owners of the means of production

Karl Marx used the concept of to explain why people who do not benefit from a capitalist system would still support it. a. surplus value b. power and prestige c. ideology d. lumpenproletariat

What is the primary difference between Marx's and Weber's views of social class? a. Weber disagreed that classes were formed around economic issues. b. Weber disagreed that economic forces are the primary basis for stratification. c. Weber disagreed that there could be more than one dimension to stratification. d. Weber did not believe that economic forces had any impact on other aspects of life.

Max Weber analyzed the connections between a. the economic, social, and political dimensions of stratification. b. class, race, and gender as the basis for social stratification. c. cooperation, competition, and conflict as social processes effecting social mobility. d. ability, ambition, and sponsorship as factors impacting on social mobility.

Weber believed that a. class and access to life chances are totally unrelated. b. while power is linked to economic standing, economic standing alone is not always the source of people's power. c. systems of stratification are not part of the social structure. d. microlevel analysis is more valid than macrolevel analysis.

According to Weber, what is the relationship of the dimensions of stratification to each other? a. The economic, social, and political dimensions of stratification are usually related. b. A person's social, political, and economic statuses are always consistent with each other. c. Political status is much more important in determining one's position in the stratification system than are economic or social status. d. There is no relationship between the economic, social, and political dimensions of stratification.

Weber's concept of is the political dimension of stratification. a. prestige b. class c. power d. status

A politician describes inequality as a motivator of people to fill the different and necessary positions in society. He is using an example of . a. functionalist theory b. conflict theory c. symbolic interactionist theory d. social exchange theory

According to the perspective, the most vital jobs in society usually receive the greatest economic rewards. a. functionalist b. conflict c. symbolic interactionist d. feminist

believe that the greater rewards attached to some positions in society help ensure that people will make the sacrifices necessary to acquire the training those positions demand. a. Functionalists b. Conflict theorists c. Symbolic interactionists d. Social exchange theorists

. Which of these statements best reflects the functionalist perspective on social inequality? a. The people with the most power set the rules to the benefit of themselves. b. Society is made up of various groups that are in constant struggle with each other over resources. c. The occupations that require the most training and involve the highest risk work are paid the highest. d. Some occupations are as important as others, but they do not receive as much pay because they tend to be occupied by women.

believe that the more stratified a society, the less likely that society will be to benefit from the talents of all its citizens. a. Functionalists b. Conflict theorists c. Symbolic interactionists d. Feminists

Which sociological theory argues that the elite shape societal beliefs and practices in order to make their own privileges appear legitimate and fair? a. Functionalism b. Conflict theory c. Symbolic interaction d. Social exchange theory

Which type of theorist would be most likely to see inequality in the social system as fair, because everyone has an equal chance of getting ahead? a. functionalism b. conflict theory c. symbolic interaction d. social exchange theory

theory emphasizes cohesion in society, while theory emphasizes friction between groups. a. Conflict / functionalist b. Symbolic interactionist / conflict c. Functionalist / conflict d. Functionalist / symbolic interactionist

Which of these is not a criticism of the functionalist perspective on social inequality, from a conflict perspective? a. The belief that economic interests are the primary force shaping social organization is overly simplistic. b. It is a mistake to believe that the greatest rewards always go to the most talented. c. Some of the most vital jobs for the survival of society are very low status and low-paid. d. The system of inequality leads to underutilization of the skills of those people at the bottom.

The poverty line refers to a. the amount of money needed to support the basic needs of a household, as determined by the government. b. the minimum amount of money a household needs to be considered middle class. c. the amount of money a family needs to be comfortable. d. the average hourly wage of the poorest workers in a society.

Today, about what percent of the U.S. population was officially categorized as poor? a. 3 b. 14 c. 31 d. 44

Which of the following groups represent the largest number, not percentage, of people in poverty? a. White. b. African American. c. Hispanic.

The Jones family's income is $500 dollars above the poverty line. Which of the following is most accurate about their circumstances? a. The poverty line is a good indicator of their circumstances. b. The poverty line is misleading and only a cutoff for antipoverty programs. c. People below the poverty line are different than those above it. d. None of the above.

The rate of poverty among people in the United States has since 2000. a. been steadily decreasing b. been steadily increasing c. remained the same d. been impossible to measure

The percentage of women and children living in poverty has been increasing. Sociologists refer to this phenomenon as . a. the feminization of poverty b. gendered poverty c. the gender gap d. the Titanic phenomenon

According to the text, of families headed by women live below the poverty line. a. one-fourth b. one-third c. one-half d. two-thirds

The fastest growing segment of the homeless population is . a. unemployed men b. victims of domestic violence c. single women d. families

According to the text, the great majority of the homeless are on the streets because of unemployment and/or . a. substance abuse b. divorce c. poor mental health d. the lack of affordable housing

A popular perspective on poverty among policy makers is that poverty is caused by bad habits and values. This perspective is called the . a. culture of poverty perspective b. value-stretch perspective c. delinquent culture thesis d. situational perspective

The culture of poverty explanation of poverty contends that poverty is the result of a. economic restructuring in the U.S. b. the status of women in the labor market today. c. a lack of individual motivation and ability on the part of the poor. d. the welfare system as it presently exists.

Research aimed at evaluating the culture of poverty argument has found that a. most of the poor are chronically poor, over several generations. b. a major event such as divorce, illness or death is often the cause for falling into poverty. c. the majority of the poor are poor throughout their entire lives. d. the poor are most often unemployed, regardless of their ability to work.

If a Jim as a sociologist is focused on how the absence of work values is a cause of poverty for a population. He is using a argument. a. structural causes of poverty b. culture of poverty c. class analysis d. natural disasters.

Which of these statements regarding the restructuring of the U.S. economy is false? a. manufacturing jobs are disappearing b. fewer men are the sole support of their families c. new jobs being created are low-paid d. men are filling the newly created service positions, leaving women unemployed

. Current welfare policy was created by the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act (PRWRA) in . a. 1930 b. 1964 c. 1996 d. 2010

Under the rules for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) there is a lifetime limit of years for people to receive welfare benefits. a. two b. five c. eight d. ten

According to the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act (PRWRA) a. all states must offer the same level of benefits to their residents in poverty. b. states may offer welfare benefits that are more generous than those of PRWRA, but they must not provide any less. c. states have the right to be more restrictive in terms of benefits than the guidelines offered by the PRWRA. d. welfare benefits are now only provided at the federal level.

Evaluations of the welfare reform of 1996 (PRWRA) have found that a. the number of people receiving welfare has decreased. b. the amount of poverty in the U.S. has decreased. c. the wages earned in workfare programs are keeping women and their children out of poverty. d. fewer Americans are poor.