Question 1

Findings from a random sample of 1,500 people have a 90 percent chance of accurately reflecting the views of the whole population within about 9 or 10 percentage points.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

According to the textbook, which of the following agents is likely to affect people's attitudes and expressed political opinions in adulthood?

Accepted Answer

A)   their emotional disappointments
B)   their personal ambition
C)   their jobs and experiences at work
D)   their decision-making capability
E)   visible and well-known presidents C

Question 3

How are most public opinion surveys conducted?

Accepted Answer

A)   in person, door to door
B)   in person, by telephone
C)   through the mail
D)   over the Internet
E)   at the polls B

Question 4

When conducting surveys, why is the wording of questions a concern?

Accepted Answer

A)   How a question is worded can unintentionally, but not intentionally, skew results.
B)   How a question is worded can intentionally, but not unintentionally, skew results.
C)   How a question is worded can affect how it is answered.
D)   How a question is worded can generate a low degree of consensus.
E)   How a question is worded can increase participation rates.

Question 5

Although multilateralists believe that the protection of American interests requires continuous engagement in the world, they that think that the United States has the resources to accomplish its ends without the cooperation of other nations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

For the most part, polling on the Internet falls prey to the problem of __________ sampling.

Accepted Answer

The answer of For the most part, polling on the...

Question 7

The best evidence that those in power are responsive to the voice of the people is that what the people want and what government does are congruent.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Name two reasons why the political attitudes of some Hispanic Americans tend to be more conservative than the attitudes of the Hispanic population as a whole, which tends to identify much more with the Democrats than the Republicans.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Name two reasons why the political attitudes...

Question 9

The division between which two groups is principally responsible for pushing the "culture war" to a "white-hot fever pitch"?

Accepted Answer

A)   voters versus nonvoters
B)   Christians versus Muslims
C)   northerners versus southerners
D)   men versus women
E)   the least versus the most religiously committed

Question 10

When is it especially likely that children will adopt the political party identification of their parents?

Accepted Answer

A)   when the parents remain married through the child's early adolescence
B)   when the parents remain married through the child's high-school years
C)   when the parents share the same party identification
D)   when the parents do not share the same party identification
E)   when the political viewpoints of one parent dominate those of the other

Question 11

Blacks, who stayed loyal to the Republican party (the party of Lincoln) long after the Civil War, became Democrats in large proportions in the 1930s during the presidency of __________, whose New Deal greatly expanded the federal government's role in providing safety nets for the poor and unemployed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Blacks, who stayed loyal to the Republican...

Question 12

Identify three core beliefs that contribute to American political culture.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify three core beliefs that contribute to...

Question 13

One of your friends makes the following statement: Americans are "one united people-a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same beliefs, attached to the same principles of government, and very similar in manners and customs." What is this statement an expression of?

Accepted Answer

A)   a public opinion
B)   a political opinion
C)   an ethical attitude
D)   a policy statement
E)   a public passion

Question 14

You are a consultant for a large public opinion polling organization, advising several potential candidates for elective office about the political opinions and attitudes of African Americans. In your role, which of the following points are you least likely to make in your discussions with these potential officeholders?

Accepted Answer

A)   that the racial divide between black and white Americans looms large, particularly with respect to what role government should play in helping people and making America more equal
B)   that the racial divide between black and white Americans is narrowing, particularly with respect to what role government should play in helping people and making America more equal
C)   that partisanship is one important area where African Americans differ from whites
D)   that, in 2011, African Americans were the most solidly Democratic of any group in the population
E)   that African Americans more confident in the country and their place in it, since the 2008 election of Barack Obama

Question 15

Why are white ethnic groups, such as Irish, Polish, and Italian Americans, less distinctive than African, Hispanic, and Asian Americans in their political opinions?

Accepted Answer

A)   As they achieved success economically, their economic liberalism tended to strengthen, and their social conservatism became less pronounced in ways that made them similar to other white Americans.
B)   As they achieved success economically, their economic liberalism tended to fade, and their social conservatism became more prominent in ways that made them similar to other white Americans.
C)   As they achieved success economically, they became a smaller part of the U.S. population and were, therefore, easier to ignore.
D)   Since the time of the New Deal, low- and moderate-income people of European ancestry have continued to identify much more strongly with Republicans than with Democrats.
E)   Since the time of the New Deal, low- and moderate-income people of European ancestry have continued to identify much more strongly with Democrats than with Republicans.

Question 16

How is political ideology best defined?

Accepted Answer

A)   as a system of words and symbols representing concepts about an individual's long-term potential
B)   as a system of class inequalities that focuses on socioeconomic status
C)   as a system for arguing about things that most Americans consider vital
D)   as a system of guidelines that outlines what is considered moral and acceptable behavior
E)   as a system of interrelated and coherently organized political beliefs and attitudes

Question 17

Why is public opinion particularly important in a democracy?

Accepted Answer

A)   because political attitudes expressed by ordinary people are unusually coherent
B)   because the public's passions are capable of infringing on others' liberties
C)   because what the people want should be directly challenged by government action
D)   because grave doubts about the wisdom of the public would otherwise be ignored
E)   because democracy is be fundamentally about the rule of the people

Question 18

Which of the following statements about the political attitudes of Hispanic Americans is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   Hispanic Americans of Puerto Rican ancestry are quite conservative on economic issues.
B)   Hispanic Americans of Cuban ancestry tend to be conservative.
C)   Hispanic Americans of Mexican ancestry tend to be rather liberal on social issues.
D)   As a whole, the Hispanic population identifies much more with the Republicans than with the Democrats.
E)   Hispanic Americans of Central American ancestry are quite conservative on economic issues.

Question 19

Many schools hold mock elections in an attempt to socialize schoolchildren to value __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many schools hold mock elections in an...

Question 20

In what way are Sir Robert Peel's sentiments about the role of public opinion in governance similar to those of many of today's political scholars and researchers?

Accepted Answer

A)   They are similar in believing that leaders should slavishly follow the public's views.
B)   They are similar in that scholars and researchers have uncovered appalling evidence of public ignorance.
C)   They are similar in believing that polls should be used to gauge public opinion.
D)   They are similar in believing that scholars and researchers should expect a high degree of consistency in citizens' day-to-day political views.
E)   They are similar in believing that the public should be surveyed only when the relative importance of an issue is high.

Exam 5: Public Opinion