Question 1

Social stratification is a concept that refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)  specialization in productive work. 
B)  ranking categories of people in a hierarchy. 
C)  the idea that some people are more talented than others. 
D)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  specialization in productive work. 
B)  ranking categories of people in a hierarchy. 
C)  the idea that some people are more talented than others. 
D)  All of the above are correct.

Question 2

State the Davis-Moore thesis. Why, according to this theory, is social inequality useful for society?

Accepted Answer

The Davis-Moore thesis is a sociological

Question 3

The "bell curve" thesis states that, in recent decades, U.S. society:

Accepted Answer

A)  has dramatically reduced poverty. 
B)  has put less and less importance on education as a path to success. 
C)  is becoming more of a meritocracy. 
D)  has become a less-stratified, "middle-class" society. 
A)  has dramatically reduced poverty. 
B)  has put less and less importance on education as a path to success. 
C)  is becoming more of a meritocracy. 
D)  has become a less-stratified, "middle-class" society.

Question 4

Why do societies with class systems keep some elements of caste (such as the inheritance of wealth) rather than becoming complete meritocracies?

Accepted Answer

A)  because too many people would be poor if society were based only on merit 
B)  because some caste elements increase productivity 
C)  because a pure meritocracy would eliminate families and other social loyalties that tie a society together 
D)  because some caste elements increase social mobility 
A)  because too many people would be poor if society were based only on merit 
B)  because some caste elements increase productivity 
C)  because a pure meritocracy would eliminate families and other social loyalties that tie a society together 
D)  because some caste elements increase social mobility

Question 5

Individuals in class systems typically exhibit more status inconsistency than people in caste systems.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Weber described stratification as a complex socioeconomic status hierarchy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

One good indication that caste still operates in Great Britain is the importance people attach to:

Accepted Answer

A)  graduating from college. 
B)  social mobility. 
C)  money. 
D)  accent in speech. 
A)  graduating from college. 
B)  social mobility. 
C)  money. 
D)  accent in speech.

Question 8

Davis and Moore point out that an egalitarian society:

Accepted Answer

A)  could never exist. 
B)  could exist but only if people are willing to allow anyone to perform any job. 
C)  would be more productive than a stratified society. 
D)  has existed in many societies at various times in history. 
A)  could never exist. 
B)  could exist but only if people are willing to allow anyone to perform any job. 
C)  would be more productive than a stratified society. 
D)  has existed in many societies at various times in history.

Question 9

Ravi was born into a caste system in a small village in Sri Lanka. He can expect to:

Accepted Answer

A)  earn his social position through his own efforts. 
B)  change his social position many times during his life. 
C)  have the same social standing as his parents. 
D)  choose his life's work for himself after finishing college. 
A)  earn his social position through his own efforts. 
B)  change his social position many times during his life. 
C)  have the same social standing as his parents. 
D)  choose his life's work for himself after finishing college.

Question 10

According to Karl Marx, social stratification in a capitalist society always involves:

Accepted Answer

A)  class conflict. 
B)  negotiation and compromise leading to stability. 
C)  the abolition of work itself. 
D)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  class conflict. 
B)  negotiation and compromise leading to stability. 
C)  the abolition of work itself. 
D)  All of the above are correct.

Question 11

Half of all the people in Great Britain today consider themselves to be in the:

Accepted Answer

A)  upper class. 
B)  middle class. 
C)  working class. 
D)  lower class. 
A)  upper class. 
B)  middle class. 
C)  working class. 
D)  lower class.

Question 12

Great Britain has eliminated ass aspects of its historic aristocracy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

A caste system is defined as:

Accepted Answer

A)  social stratification based on ascription, or birth. 
B)  social stratification based on personal achievement. 
C)  a meritocracy. 
D)  any social system in which categories of people are unequal. 
A)  social stratification based on ascription, or birth. 
B)  social stratification based on personal achievement. 
C)  a meritocracy. 
D)  any social system in which categories of people are unequal.

Question 14

In class systems, social categories are more clearly and rigidly defined than they are in caste systems.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Max Weber claimed that agrarian societies give special importance to which dimension of social inequality?

Accepted Answer

A)  economic class 
B)  social prestige or honor 
C)  power 
D)  control of information 
A)  economic class 
B)  social prestige or honor 
C)  power 
D)  control of information

Question 16

Max Weber claimed that agrarian societies give special importance to which dimension of social inequality?

Accepted Answer

A)  economic class 
B)  social prestige or honor 
C)  power 
D)  control of information 
A)  economic class 
B)  social prestige or honor 
C)  power 
D)  control of information

Question 17

The chapter's "Seeing Sociology in the News" box explains:

Accepted Answer

A)  Yemen's lowest caste has no hope of social mobility. 
B)  in Yemen, everyone gets and equal chance in life. 
C)  in Yemen, people's personal intelligence determines their live chances. 
D)  traditional religious affiliations decide whether someone from Yemen will succeed. 
A)  Yemen's lowest caste has no hope of social mobility. 
B)  in Yemen, everyone gets and equal chance in life. 
C)  in Yemen, people's personal intelligence determines their live chances. 
D)  traditional religious affiliations decide whether someone from Yemen will succeed.

Question 18

The point of the chapter-opening story of passenger deaths that accompanied the sinking of the ocean liner Titanic is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  advanced technology cannot prevent tragedy. 
B)  all people have the same right to life. 
C)  social stratification matters and can sometimes be a matter of life and death. 
D)  social stratification often has little to do with everyday life. 
A)  advanced technology cannot prevent tragedy. 
B)  all people have the same right to life. 
C)  social stratification matters and can sometimes be a matter of life and death. 
D)  social stratification often has little to do with everyday life.

Question 19

If you have a job that involves manual labor, you are doing:

Accepted Answer

A)  blue-collar work. 
B)  white-collar work 
C)  service work. 
D)  farming. 
A)  blue-collar work. 
B)  white-collar work 
C)  service work. 
D)  farming.

Question 20

According to Karl Marx, what are the two major classes in industrial-capitalist societies? What did Marx say was the relationship between the two classes?

Accepted Answer

According to Karl Marx, the two major cl

Exam 10: Social Stratification

Social stratification is a concept that refers to:

State the Davis-Moore thesis. Why, according to this theory, is social inequality useful for society?

The "bell curve" thesis states that, in recent decades, U.S. society:

Why do societies with class systems keep some elements of caste (such as the inheritance of wealth) rather than becoming complete meritocracies?

Individuals in class systems typically exhibit more status inconsistency than people in caste systems.

Weber described stratification as a complex socioeconomic status hierarchy.

One good indication that caste still operates in Great Britain is the importance people attach to:

Davis and Moore point out that an egalitarian society:

Ravi was born into a caste system in a small village in Sri Lanka. He can expect to:

According to Karl Marx, social stratification in a capitalist society always involves:

Half of all the people in Great Britain today consider themselves to be in the:

Great Britain has eliminated ass aspects of its historic aristocracy.

A caste system is defined as:

In class systems, social categories are more clearly and rigidly defined than they are in caste systems.

Max Weber claimed that agrarian societies give special importance to which dimension of social inequality?

Max Weber claimed that agrarian societies give special importance to which dimension of social inequality?

The chapter's "Seeing Sociology in the News" box explains:

The point of the chapter-opening story of passenger deaths that accompanied the sinking of the ocean liner Titanic is that:

If you have a job that involves manual labor, you are doing:

According to Karl Marx, what are the two major classes in industrial-capitalist societies? What did Marx say was the relationship between the two classes?

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