Question 1

Causes for the increase in the proportion of the population that is elderly include

Accepted Answer

A) increases in both the birth rate and life expectancy. 
B) decreases in both the birth rate and life expectancy. 
C) a decreasing birth rate and increasing life expectancy. 
D) an increasing birth rate and decreasing life expectancy. 
A) increases in both the birth rate and life expectancy. 
B) decreases in both the birth rate and life expectancy. 
C) a decreasing birth rate and increasing life expectancy. 
D) an increasing birth rate and decreasing life expectancy.

Question 2

The "young old" refers to people under the age of fifty-five.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Gerontocracy is a form of social organization in which the oldest members of a society have the greatest wealth and power.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Why is social isolation a greater problem for aging women than aging men?

Accepted Answer

Social isolation can be a significant is

Question 5

Disengagement theory is guided by the symbolic-interaction approach.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Disengagement theory is guided by which theoretical approach?

Accepted Answer

A) the social-conflict approach 
B) the structural-functional approach 
C) the symbolic-interaction approach 
D) the sociobiology approach 
A) the social-conflict approach 
B) the structural-functional approach 
C) the symbolic-interaction approach 
D) the sociobiology approach

Question 7

In general, higher-income nations have the largest share of elderly people in their populations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following illustrates the concept of "staged retirement"?

Accepted Answer

A) Alicia carefully plans for retirement beginning when she is in her twenties. 
B) Marco's company requires him to retire at age sixty-five. 
C) Latoya continues working in her old age, but at a reduced level. 
D) Sam finds other activities to fill the time once spent working. 
A) Alicia carefully plans for retirement beginning when she is in her twenties. 
B) Marco's company requires him to retire at age sixty-five. 
C) Latoya continues working in her old age, but at a reduced level. 
D) Sam finds other activities to fill the time once spent working.

Question 9

In centuries past with respect to dying,

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 these 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 these are correct.

Question 10

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

Question 11

Age stratification refers to inequality among elderly people.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Social isolation is a greater problem for elderly women than for elderly men.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

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 applying the sociological perspective to 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 14

The elderly population of Japan is increasing rapidly; at the same time, that country's overall population is projected to decline.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

In general, industrialization has what effect on the social standing of the elderly in relation to younger people?

Accepted Answer

A) It reduces the social standing of seniors. 
B) There is little or no effect. 
C) It raises the social standing of seniors. 
D) It raises the social standing of older men but reduces it for women. 
A) It reduces the social standing of seniors. 
B) There is little or no effect. 
C) It raises the social standing of seniors. 
D) It raises the social standing of older men but reduces it for women.

Question 16

In global terms, life expectancy is

Accepted Answer

A) highest in the lowest-income countries. 
B) about the same everywhere, but higher for women than for men. 
C) about the same everywhere, but higher for men than for women. 
D) highest in the highest-income countries. 
A) highest in the lowest-income countries. 
B) about the same everywhere, but higher for women than for men. 
C) about the same everywhere, but higher for men than for women. 
D) highest in the highest-income countries.

Question 17

Increasing longevity is a major factor driving up the elderly population.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Ageism is the belief that the oldest people are the wisest and should have the most power.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which concept refers to assisting in the death of a person suffering from an incurable disease?

Accepted Answer

A) Hippocratic assistance 
B) euthanasia 
C) gerontocracy 
D) bereavement 
A) Hippocratic assistance 
B) euthanasia 
C) gerontocracy 
D) bereavement

Question 20

What does industrialization do for life expectancy? What does it do to the relative social standing of the oldest people in a society?

Accepted Answer

Industrialization has been shown to have

Exam 15: Aging and the Elderly

Causes for the increase in the proportion of the population that is elderly include

The "young old" refers to people under the age of fifty-five.

Gerontocracy is a form of social organization in which the oldest members of a society have the greatest wealth and power.

Why is social isolation a greater problem for aging women than aging men?

Disengagement theory is guided by the symbolic-interaction approach.

Disengagement theory is guided by which theoretical approach?

In general, higher-income nations have the largest share of elderly people in their populations.

Which of the following illustrates the concept of "staged retirement"?

In centuries past with respect to dying,

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

Age stratification refers to inequality among elderly people.

Social isolation is a greater problem for elderly women than for elderly men.

The elderly population of Japan is increasing rapidly; at the same time, that country's overall population is projected to decline.

In general, industrialization has what effect on the social standing of the elderly in relation to younger people?

In global terms, life expectancy is

Increasing longevity is a major factor driving up the elderly population.

Ageism is the belief that the oldest people are the wisest and should have the most power.

Which concept refers to assisting in the death of a person suffering from an incurable disease?

What does industrialization do for life expectancy? What does it do to the relative social standing of the oldest people in a society?

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