Question 1

Being in the upper-upper class is usually the result of _____; being in the lower-upper class is more a matter of _____.

Accepted Answer

A) birth; achievement 
B) business success; birth 
C) gender; birth 
D) high-income; low-income 
A) birth; achievement 
B) business success; birth 
C) gender; birth 
D) high-income; low-income

Question 2

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 in similar social standing. 
D) All of these 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 in similar social standing. 
D) All of these are correct.

Question 3

The richest 20 percent of U.S.families earn 48 percent of all income, while the bottom 20 percent earn only about 4 percent.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Based on sociological research, explain why social standing reflects not simply the traits of individuals but the operation of society.

Accepted Answer

Social standing reflects not simply the

Question 5

People who supported the 1996 welfare reform claim that the earlier system

Accepted Answer

A) encouraged welfare dependency. 
B) discouraged women from marrying. 
C) encouraged unmarried women to have children. 
D) All of these are correct. 
A) encouraged welfare dependency. 
B) discouraged women from marrying. 
C) encouraged unmarried women to have children. 
D) All of these are correct.

Question 6

Which of the following concepts refers to change in social position during a person's lifetime?

Accepted Answer

A) intragenerational social mobility 
B) intergenerational social mobility 
C) structural social mobility 
D) horizontal social mobility 
A) intragenerational social mobility 
B) intergenerational social mobility 
C) structural social mobility 
D) horizontal social mobility

Question 7

In recent decades, William Julius Wilson claims, many central cities no longer have enough jobs to support the families who live there.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Today, the wealth of the average U.S.family is about

Accepted Answer

A) $30,000. 
B) $50,000. 
C) $120,000. 
D) $200,000. 
A) $30,000. 
B) $50,000. 
C) $120,000. 
D) $200,000.

Question 9

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 10

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 11

Which of the following areas of the United States has the highest rate of poverty?

Accepted Answer

A) rural areas 
B) central cities 
C) suburbs 
D) All of the areas listed here have the same poverty rate. 
A) rural areas 
B) central cities 
C) suburbs 
D) All of the areas listed here have the same poverty rate.

Question 12

The concept of "intergenerational social mobility" refers to change in social position

Accepted Answer

A) over a person's lifetime 
B) when moving from one type of job to another. 
C) in a downward direction. 
D) comparing children to their parents. 
A) over a person's lifetime 
B) when moving from one type of job to another. 
C) in a downward direction. 
D) comparing children to their parents.

Question 13

Critics of the 1996 welfare reforms claim the new system

Accepted Answer

A) has done little to reduce poverty in the United States. 
B) has strengthened families in the United States. 
C) encourages welfare dependency. 
D) All of these are correct. 
A) has done little to reduce poverty in the United States. 
B) has strengthened families in the United States. 
C) encourages welfare dependency. 
D) All of these are correct.

Question 14

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 15

In 2009, median family income in the United States was $60,088.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The wealth of rich people is not only greater, but more of it is in the form of investments that typically increase in value and generate income.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Societal factors that contribute to homelessness include low wages and a lack of low-income housing.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Which of the following categories of people are most likely to be liberal on social issues

Accepted Answer

A) rich, highly-educated people 
B) average, middle class people 
C) less-educated working class people 
D) All these categories are equally likely to be liberal on social issues. 
A) rich, highly-educated people 
B) average, middle class people 
C) less-educated working class people 
D) All these categories are equally likely to be liberal on social issues.

Question 19

What were some of the consequences of the 1996 welfare reform in the United States? To what extent would you say that this reform was or was not successful?

Accepted Answer

The 1996 welfare reform in the United St

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 11: Social Class in the United States

Being in the upper-upper class is usually the result of _____; being in the lower-upper class is more a matter of _____.

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

The richest 20 percent of U.S.families earn 48 percent of all income, while the bottom 20 percent earn only about 4 percent.

Based on sociological research, explain why social standing reflects not simply the traits of individuals but the operation of society.

People who supported the 1996 welfare reform claim that the earlier system

Which of the following concepts refers to change in social position during a person's lifetime?

In recent decades, William Julius Wilson claims, many central cities no longer have enough jobs to support the families who live there.

Today, the wealth of the average U.S.family is about

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

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

Which of the following areas of the United States has the highest rate of poverty?

The concept of "intergenerational social mobility" refers to change in social position

Critics of the 1996 welfare reforms claim the new system

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

In 2009, median family income in the United States was $60,088.

The wealth of rich people is not only greater, but more of it is in the form of investments that typically increase in value and generate income.

Societal factors that contribute to homelessness include low wages and a lack of low-income housing.

Which of the following categories of people are most likely to be liberal on social issues

What were some of the consequences of the 1996 welfare reform in the United States? To what extent would you say that this reform was or was not successful?

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

The Sociological Perspective

Sociological Investigation

Culture

Society

Socialization

Social Interaction in Everyday Life

Groups and Organizations

Sexuality and Society

Deviance

Social Stratification

Global Stratification

Gender Stratification

Race and Ethnicity

Aging and the Elderly

The Economy and Work

Politics and Government

Families

Religion

Education

Health and Medicine

Population, Urbanization, and Environment

Collective Behavior and Social Movements

Social Change: Traditional

Filters

Being in the upper-upper class is usually the result of _; being in the lower-upper class is more a matter of _.