Question 1

Gerontology is the study of aging and the elderly.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Seniors with higher incomes assess their own health as better compared to seniors with lower incomes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Read the Sociology in the News feature on

Accepted Answer

As an AI, I'm unable to read s

Question 4

In the United States, males typically outlive females.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What are the basic ideas behind a social-conflict theory of aging?

Accepted Answer

Social-conflict theory of aging, also kn

Question 6

What is age stratification?

Accepted Answer

Age stratification refers to the divisio

Question 7

What effect did industrialization have on life expectancy in the United States and Western Europe?

Accepted Answer

A)  Life expectancy went up about thirty years. 
B)  There was little effect on life expectancy. 
C)  Life expectancy went down by about ten years. 
D)  Life expectancy rose for women but fell for men. 
A)  Life expectancy went up about thirty years. 
B)  There was little effect on life expectancy. 
C)  Life expectancy went down by about ten years. 
D)  Life expectancy rose for women but fell for men.

Question 8

Over the life course, poverty rates in the United States are lowest among those:

Accepted Answer

A)  aged sixty-five and older. 
B)  aged fifty-five to sixty-four. 
C)  aged forty-five to fifty-four. 
D)  aged thirty-five to forty-four. 
A)  aged sixty-five and older. 
B)  aged fifty-five to sixty-four. 
C)  aged forty-five to fifty-four. 
D)  aged thirty-five to forty-four.

Question 9

How is the increasing share of our population over the age of sixty-five likely to change our way of life?

Accepted Answer

The increasing share of our population o

Question 10

What are the biological changes associated with growing old? In light of these changes, why do sociologists claim that aging is just as much a cultural issue as a biological issue? In describing the cultural dimensions of the aging process, consider the effects of industrialization on the social standing of the elderly. In your essay, point out differences between Japan and the United States today.

Accepted Answer

As people age, there are several biologi

Question 11

In what ways does U.S. society separate death from life? Why do we do this? What approach to death and dying would be more beneficial? Why? Consider the work of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in developing answers to these questions.

Accepted Answer

In U.S. society, death is often separate

Question 12

Disengagement theory is guided by the symbolic-interaction approach.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Compared to the "young old," the "old old" in the United States:

Accepted Answer

A)  contains a larger share of women. 
B)  is richer. 
C)  has better health. 
D)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  contains a larger share of women. 
B)  is richer. 
C)  has better health. 
D)  All of the above are correct.

Question 14

Bernice Neugarten claimed that people who experience old age most successfully are those with:

Accepted Answer

A)  disintegrated and disorganized personalities. 
B)  passive-dependent personalities. 
C)  defended personalities. 
D)  integrated personalities. 
A)  disintegrated and disorganized personalities. 
B)  passive-dependent personalities. 
C)  defended personalities. 
D)  integrated personalities.

Question 15

Explain the insights offered by sociology's three major theoretical approaches on growing old. What is the argument made by (structural-functionalist) disengagement theory? How does (symbolic-interactionist) activity theory differ? Lastly, what does social-conflict theory have to add to our understanding?

Accepted Answer

Sociology's three major theoretical appr

Question 16

In centuries past:

Accepted Answer

A)  people avoided discussing death. 
B)  people refused to accept the reality of their own death. 
C)  people were more familiar with death than they are today. 
D)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  people avoided discussing death. 
B)  people refused to accept the reality of their own death. 
C)  people were more familiar with death than they are today. 
D)  All of the above are correct.

Question 17

The concept of "staged retirement" refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)  carefully planning for retirement beginning in early adulthood. 
B)  requiring people to retire at age sixty-five. 
C)  working into old age, but at a reduced level. 
D)  finding other activities to fill the time once spent working. 
A)  carefully planning for retirement beginning in early adulthood. 
B)  requiring people to retire at age sixty-five. 
C)  working into old age, but at a reduced level. 
D)  finding other activities to fill the time once spent working.

Question 18

Compared to disengagement theory's focus on _____ activity theory has more of a focus on _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  staying active the value of retirement 
B)  the operation of society the needs of elders themselves 
C)  society as a whole patterns of inequality 
D)  the negative aspects of aging the positive aspects of aging 
A)  staying active the value of retirement 
B)  the operation of society the needs of elders themselves 
C)  society as a whole patterns of inequality 
D)  the negative aspects of aging the positive aspects of aging

Question 19

Which of the following statements about the living arrangements of the elderly in the United States is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most men live with spouses women are about equally likely to live with a spouse or to live alone. 
B)  Most men live in nursing homes or other assisted-living facilities most women live alone. 
C)  Most women live in nursing homes or other assisted-living facilities most men live alone. 
D)  Most men and women live in nursing homes or other assisted-living facilities. 
A)  Most men live with spouses women are about equally likely to live with a spouse or to live alone. 
B)  Most men live in nursing homes or other assisted-living facilities most women live alone. 
C)  Most women live in nursing homes or other assisted-living facilities most men live alone. 
D)  Most men and women live in nursing homes or other assisted-living facilities.

Question 20

Elder abuse is a form of family violence that often goes unreported to police.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 15: Aging and the Elderly

Gerontology is the study of aging and the elderly.

Seniors with higher incomes assess their own health as better compared to seniors with lower incomes.

Read the Sociology in the News feature on

In the United States, males typically outlive females.

What are the basic ideas behind a social-conflict theory of aging?

What is age stratification?

What effect did industrialization have on life expectancy in the United States and Western Europe?

Over the life course, poverty rates in the United States are lowest among those:

How is the increasing share of our population over the age of sixty-five likely to change our way of life?

In what ways does U.S. society separate death from life? Why do we do this? What approach to death and dying would be more beneficial? Why? Consider the work of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in developing answers to these questions.

Disengagement theory is guided by the symbolic-interaction approach.

Compared to the "young old," the "old old" in the United States:

Bernice Neugarten claimed that people who experience old age most successfully are those with:

In centuries past:

The concept of "staged retirement" refers to:

Compared to disengagement theory's focus on _____ activity theory has more of a focus on _____.

Which of the following statements about the living arrangements of the elderly in the United States is correct?

Elder abuse is a form of family violence that often goes unreported to police.

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