Question 1

Which of the following does not represent a reason why "middle class" is difficult to define?

Accepted Answer

A)  A very large portion of people, 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 United States. 
D)  The middle class is a very small and homogeneous group. 
A)  A very large portion of people, 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 United States. 
D)  The middle class is a very small and homogeneous group. D

Question 2

Blair can't help but notice what people are wearing at the office party. Some are wearing the latest from designer brands, accessorized with designer shoes and expensive jewelry, and others are wearing what seems to her to be indistinguishable popular brands of clothing and shoes. Blair is best described as musing on the _____ projected by what people are wearing.

Accepted Answer

A)  social status 
B)  social conflict 
C)  social greed 
D)  social caste 
A)  social status 
B)  social conflict 
C)  social greed 
D)  social caste A

Question 3

Because it often has numerous levels, the caste system is more open to movement than the class system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

Occupational prestige ratings

Accepted Answer

A)  are subjective evaluations of jobs. 
B)  are objective rankings determined by salary data. 
C)  are not related to overall socioeconomic status. 
D)  are based on economic potential. 
A)  are subjective evaluations of jobs. 
B)  are objective rankings determined by salary data. 
C)  are not related to overall socioeconomic status. 
D)  are based on economic potential.

Question 5

Karl Marx used the concept of _____, which he defined as belief systems that support the status quo, to explain why people who do not benefit from a capitalist system would still support it.

Accepted Answer

A)  class consciousness 
B)  principled thought 
C)  ideology 
D)  moral imperative 
A)  class consciousness 
B)  principled thought 
C)  ideology 
D)  moral imperative

Question 6

How would a conflict theorist explain social inequality? Contrast this with the functionalist perspective.

Accepted Answer

A conflict theorist would explain social

Question 7

Since the 1960s, when poverty was more than 20 percent, poverty in the United States has.

Accepted Answer

A)  increased markedly. 
B)  decreased markedly. 
C)  remained the same. 
D)  varied wildly from year to year. 
A)  increased markedly. 
B)  decreased markedly. 
C)  remained the same. 
D)  varied wildly from year to year.

Question 8

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  Functionalist 
B)  Conflict 
C)  Symbolic interactionist 
D)  Social exchange 
A)  Functionalist 
B)  Conflict 
C)  Symbolic interactionist 
D)  Social exchange

Question 9

Studies have found that since the enactment of welfare reform (PRWRA) in 1996,

Accepted Answer

A)  the number of people receiving welfare has decreased. 
B)  the amount of poverty in the United States has decreased. 
C)  the wages earned in workfare programs are keeping women and their children out of poverty. 
D)  fewer Americans are poor. 
A)  the number of people receiving welfare has decreased. 
B)  the amount of poverty in the United States has decreased. 
C)  the wages earned in workfare programs are keeping women and their children out of poverty. 
D)  fewer Americans are poor.

Question 10

According to William Julius Wilson, the "urban underclass"

Accepted Answer

A)  consists largely of the permanently unemployed. 
B)  is the product of an overly generous welfare system that encourages unemployment and lack of initiative. 
C)  benefited from the recession because finding low-paying jobs was easier. 
D)  consists mostly of newcomers to cities who simply lack the skills to live in urban settings. 
A)  consists largely of the permanently unemployed. 
B)  is the product of an overly generous welfare system that encourages unemployment and lack of initiative. 
C)  benefited from the recession because finding low-paying jobs was easier. 
D)  consists mostly of newcomers to cities who simply lack the skills to live in urban settings.

Question 11

Which of these statements is the best description of social class in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is a very simple class structure with a very few wealthy landowners and the majority of others living comfortable lives. 
B)  The social class system is very simple because throughout the society, there is relative equality. 
C)  In the United States, social class is determined largely by occupation and thus is very malleable. 
D)  The U.S. class system is elaborate; it could be depicted by a ladder with a different social class at each rung. 
A)  There is a very simple class structure with a very few wealthy landowners and the majority of others living comfortable lives. 
B)  The social class system is very simple because throughout the society, there is relative equality. 
C)  In the United States, social class is determined largely by occupation and thus is very malleable. 
D)  The U.S. class system is elaborate; it could be depicted by a ladder with a different social class at each rung.

Question 12

In terms of demographic characteristics such as age, race/ethnicity, and sex, which groups in the United States are most likely to live in poverty?  Explain these patterns in poverty using conflict theory.

Accepted Answer

In the United States, certain demographi

Question 13

Which of the following is false regarding social class in the United States?

Accepted Answer

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 the working environment. 
D)  Tax loopholes favor the middle and lower classes. 
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 the working environment. 
D)  Tax loopholes favor the middle and lower classes.

Question 14

Beth, a recent college graduate, recognizes that she has lots of nice "stuff," largely thanks to her family buying it for her. Beth also recognizes that she has a lot of debt, thanks to her student loans. When Beth considers the difference between the monetary value of her possessions and other financial assets and her debt, she is best described as pondering her

Accepted Answer

A)  class position. 
B)  wealth. 
C)  income. 
D)  prestige. 
A)  class position. 
B)  wealth. 
C)  income. 
D)  prestige.

Question 15

Which of the following is false regarding social class?

Accepted Answer

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 
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

Question 16

How does Karl Marx explain class and capitalism?

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx explains class and capitalism

Question 17

Is the "American Dream" of equal opportunity and financial success for those who are willing to work hard achievable today? Explain your reasoning.

Accepted Answer

The "American Dream" of equal opportunit

Question 18

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  The urban underclass has almost 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 mostly of recent immigrants. 
A)  The urban underclass has almost 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 mostly of recent immigrants.

Question 19

Discuss the ideas of overlapping systems of stratification. What does it mean, and what are its implications for class position? Illustrate your response with two examples.

Accepted Answer

Overlapping systems of stratification re

Question 20

Social stratification is found only in industrialized societies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Which of the following does not represent a reason why "middle class" is difficult to define?

Because it often has numerous levels, the caste system is more open to movement than the class system.

Occupational prestige ratings

Karl Marx used the concept of _____, which he defined as belief systems that support the status quo, to explain why people who do not benefit from a capitalist system would still support it.

How would a conflict theorist explain social inequality? Contrast this with the functionalist perspective.

Since the 1960s, when poverty was more than 20 percent, poverty in the United States has.

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?

Studies have found that since the enactment of welfare reform (PRWRA) in 1996,

According to William Julius Wilson, the "urban underclass"

Which of these statements is the best description of social class in the United States?

In terms of demographic characteristics such as age, race/ethnicity, and sex, which groups in the United States are most likely to live in poverty? Explain these patterns in poverty using conflict theory.

Which of the following is false regarding social class in the United States?

Which of the following is false regarding social class?

How does Karl Marx explain class and capitalism?

Is the "American Dream" of equal opportunity and financial success for those who are willing to work hard achievable today? Explain your reasoning.

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?

Discuss the ideas of overlapping systems of stratification. What does it mean, and what are its implications for class position? Illustrate your response with two examples.

Social stratification is found only in industrialized societies.

Sociological Perspective

Culture

Doing Sociological Research

Socialization and the Life Course

Social Structure and Social Interaction

Groups and Organization

Deviance and Crime

Global Stratification

Race and Ethnicity

Gender

Sexuality

Families and Religion

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Economy and Politics

Environment, Population and Social Change

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Exam 8: Social Class and Social Stratification

Which of the following does not represent a reason why "middle class" is difficult to define?

Because it often has numerous levels, the caste system is more open to movement than the class system.

Occupational prestige ratings

Karl Marx used the concept of _____, which he defined as belief systems that support the status quo, to explain why people who do not benefit from a capitalist system would still support it.

How would a conflict theorist explain social inequality? Contrast this with the functionalist perspective.

Since the 1960s, when poverty was more than 20 percent, poverty in the United States has.

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?

Studies have found that since the enactment of welfare reform (PRWRA) in 1996,

According to William Julius Wilson, the "urban underclass"

Which of these statements is the best description of social class in the United States?

In terms of demographic characteristics such as age, race/ethnicity, and sex, which groups in the United States are most likely to live in poverty? Explain these patterns in poverty using conflict theory.

Which of the following is false regarding social class in the United States?

Which of the following is false regarding social class?

How does Karl Marx explain class and capitalism?

Is the "American Dream" of equal opportunity and financial success for those who are willing to work hard achievable today? Explain your reasoning.

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?

Discuss the ideas of overlapping systems of stratification. What does it mean, and what are its implications for class position? Illustrate your response with two examples.

Social stratification is found only in industrialized societies.

Sociological Perspective

Culture

Doing Sociological Research

Socialization and the Life Course

Social Structure and Social Interaction

Groups and Organization

Deviance and Crime

Global Stratification

Race and Ethnicity

Gender

Sexuality

Families and Religion

Education and Health Care

Economy and Politics

Environment, Population and Social Change

Filters