Question 1

About what percentage of all U.S. families have little or no wealth?

Accepted Answer

A)  10 percent 
B)  40 percent 
C)  70 percent 
D)  90 percent 
A)  10 percent 
B)  40 percent 
C)  70 percent 
D)  90 percent

Question 2

Explain the debate over the causes of poverty in the United States. What evidence suggests that the poor are responsible for poverty? What evidence suggests that society as a whole is responsible for poverty? Which side of the debate do you find more convincing? Why?

Accepted Answer

The debate over the causes of poverty in

Question 3

U.S society is not highly stratified.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

In general, people of low-class position:

Accepted Answer

A)  live in less safe and more stressful environments. 
B)  are less likely to describe their own health as "excellent." 
C)  live fewer years overall. 
D)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  live in less safe and more stressful environments. 
B)  are less likely to describe their own health as "excellent." 
C)  live fewer years overall. 
D)  All of the above are correct.

Question 5

The working class is sometimes called the "lower-middle class."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The globalization of the economy has pushed up the earnings of highly educated people who specialize in law, finance, marketing, and computer technology.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Recent welfare reform has greatly reduced the poverty rate in the United States.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

If you followed the lead of Max Weber, you would think of social stratification in terms of:

Accepted Answer

A)  a multidimensional status hierarchy. 
B)  two major social classes. 
C)  a middle-class society. 
D)  six different social classes. 
A)  a multidimensional status hierarchy. 
B)  two major social classes. 
C)  a middle-class society. 
D)  six different social classes.

Question 9

If you believe that people living in central cities are likely to be poor because there are few jobs available in these areas, you are in agreement with:

Accepted Answer

A)  Oscar Lewis 
B)  William Julius Wilson 
C)  Davis and Moore 
D)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  Oscar Lewis 
B)  William Julius Wilson 
C)  Davis and Moore 
D)  All of the above are correct.

Question 10

Based on statistics in the textbook, it is correct to say that the richest 20 percent of the population earn about _____ times as much as the poorest 20 percent.

Accepted Answer

A)  two 
B)  twelve 
C)  twenty-five 
D)  one hundred 
A)  two 
B)  twelve 
C)  twenty-five 
D)  one hundred

Question 11

In 2009, what percentage of the heads of poor U.S. families did not work at all or had only a part-time job?

Accepted Answer

A)  12 percent 
B)  32 percent 
C)  52 percent 
D)  86 percent 
A)  12 percent 
B)  32 percent 
C)  52 percent 
D)  86 percent

Question 12

Many people in this country think of the United States as a more-or-less "middle-class" society because:

Accepted Answer

A)  we have no history of nobility, as in Europe. 
B)  U.S. culture celebrates individual effort. 
C)  most people interact with others with similar social standing. 
D)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  we have no history of nobility, as in Europe. 
B)  U.S. culture celebrates individual effort. 
C)  most people interact with others with similar social standing. 
D)  All of the above are correct.

Question 13

Which of the following class levels contains the least amount of racial and ethnic diversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  the upper-upper class 
B)  the middle class 
C)  the working class 
D)  All class levels have the same level of racial and ethnic diversity. 
A)  the upper-upper class 
B)  the middle class 
C)  the working class 
D)  All class levels have the same level of racial and ethnic diversity.

Question 14

In 2009, how many people were counted by the U.S. government as having income below the official poverty line?

Accepted Answer

A)  370,000 
B)  3 million 
C)  44 million 
D)  370 million 
A)  370,000 
B)  3 million 
C)  44 million 
D)  370 million

Question 15

According to Karl Marx, which class forms the core of the industrial proletariat?

Accepted Answer

A)  the upper-middle class 
B)  the middle class 
C)  the upper class 
D)  the working class 
A)  the upper-middle class 
B)  the middle class 
C)  the upper class 
D)  the working class

Question 16

Which of the following factors affect social position in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  the family we a person is born into 
B)  a person's race 
C)  a person's gender 
D)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  the family we a person is born into 
B)  a person's race 
C)  a person's gender 
D)  All of the above are correct.

Question 17

The concept "feminization of poverty" refers to the fact that, in the United States:

Accepted Answer

A)  more and more women are becoming poor. 
B)  today's women have fewer legal rights. 
C)  women make up an increasing percentage of the poor. 
D)  fewer women now work for income. 
A)  more and more women are becoming poor. 
B)  today's women have fewer legal rights. 
C)  women make up an increasing percentage of the poor. 
D)  fewer women now work for income.

Question 18

In the United States, an increasing percentage of the poor are:

Accepted Answer

A)  single women and their children. 
B)  married couples with children. 
C)  single men. 
D)  working people. 
A)  single women and their children. 
B)  married couples with children. 
C)  single men. 
D)  working people.

Question 19

About 50 million people are homeless in the United States for some portion of a given year.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

In the United States, rural areas have a higher poverty rate than central cities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 11: Social Class in the United States

About what percentage of all U.S. families have little or no wealth?

Explain the debate over the causes of poverty in the United States. What evidence suggests that the poor are responsible for poverty? What evidence suggests that society as a whole is responsible for poverty? Which side of the debate do you find more convincing? Why?

U.S society is not highly stratified.

In general, people of low-class position:

The working class is sometimes called the "lower-middle class."

The globalization of the economy has pushed up the earnings of highly educated people who specialize in law, finance, marketing, and computer technology.

Recent welfare reform has greatly reduced the poverty rate in the United States.

If you followed the lead of Max Weber, you would think of social stratification in terms of:

If you believe that people living in central cities are likely to be poor because there are few jobs available in these areas, you are in agreement with:

Based on statistics in the textbook, it is correct to say that the richest 20 percent of the population earn about _____ times as much as the poorest 20 percent.

In 2009, what percentage of the heads of poor U.S. families did not work at all or had only a part-time job?

Many people in this country think of the United States as a more-or-less "middle-class" society because:

Which of the following class levels contains the least amount of racial and ethnic diversity?

In 2009, how many people were counted by the U.S. government as having income below the official poverty line?

According to Karl Marx, which class forms the core of the industrial proletariat?

Which of the following factors affect social position in the United States?

The concept "feminization of poverty" refers to the fact that, in the United States:

In the United States, an increasing percentage of the poor are:

About 50 million people are homeless in the United States for some portion of a given year.

In the United States, rural areas have a higher poverty rate than central cities.

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