Question 1

Medina is looking at the historical period in which smaller groupings of humans developed into much larger societies, often ruled by kings, queens, and emperors, with the creation of cities and increasing inequality. She is studying the birth of what most sociologists call:

Accepted Answer

A)  civilization. 
B)  religion. 
C)  spirituality. 
D)  art.

Question 2

According to the textbook, two cultural universals particularly stand out in human societies. They are ________ and ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  ways of expressing meaning; material goods 
B)  material goods; money 
C)  market relations; ways of expressing meaning 
D)  market relations; money

Question 3

________ are widely agreed-upon principles or rules people are expected to observe; they represent the dos and don'ts of social life.

Accepted Answer

A)  Norms 
B)  Material goods 
C)  Values 
D)  Sanctions

Question 4

When Yale administrators cautioned students to be thoughtful and sensitive in their choice of Halloween costume, their concern was that cultural elements used in some costumes can reduce cultural groups to demeaning stereotypes. This concern is about the issue of:

Accepted Answer

A)  ethnocentrism. 
B)  cultural relativism. 
C)  cultural appropriation. 
D)  sanctions.

Question 5

Carolina studies mainstream American culture. One of her colleagues notices that she consistently ignores material objects, such as food, clothing, and art. Why might her studies be criticized?

Accepted Answer

A)  These objects are crucial parts of culture that influence how we live our lives. 
B)  Studying American culture is useless because it has spread all over the globe. 
C)  Culture is a secondary effect of social structures, so Carolina would do better to begin her studies with capitalism and the state. 
D)  Of the three things Carolina ignores, art matters in the context of studying culture.

Question 6

The process whereby Western nations established their rule in parts of the world away from their home territories is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  assimilation. 
B)  cultural appropriation. 
C)  Manifest Destiny. 
D)  colonialism.

Question 7

If the language of a highly individualistic society contains many words and phrases about personal success and individual achievement that someone from a more communal society has difficulty fully understanding, this is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  resource mobilization. 
B)  the material representation of culture. 
C)  structural determination. 
D)  the linguistic relativity hypothesis.

Question 8

Kendrick studies which human behaviors might be innate and which might be learned through social processes. His studies contribute most to which sociological debate?

Accepted Answer

A)  macro vs. micro 
B)  economics vs. culture 
C)  structures of accumulation vs. institutional roles 
D)  nature vs. nurture

Question 9

The textbook refers to the emergence of machine production based on the use of inanimate power resources (such as steam or electricity) as:

Accepted Answer

A)  capitalism. 
B)  civilization. 
C)  feudal progression. 
D)  industrialization.

Question 10

Ana is studying the ways different societies socially sanction and formally approve of certain sexual relationships. As she studies this in each society, she will come across:

Accepted Answer

A)  countercultures. 
B)  industrialization. 
C)  marriage. 
D)  cultural appropriation.

Exam 2: Culture and Society