Question 1

Elements of liberal democracy include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Market fundamentalism is not an element of liberal democracy. Liberal democracy promotes individual rights, civil liberties, and the protection of the rule of law, but it does not promote any specific economic system like market fundamentalism.

Question 2

According to the text, the tension at the very core of U.S. politics is between the tendency for capitalism to promote ______________ and the tendency for democracy to promote ______________.

Accepted Answer

The text argues that capitalism promotes wealth inequality, while democracy promotes equality. This creates tension and conflict in U.S. politics.

Question 3

According to the text, over the course of American history, Americans have become ______________.

Accepted Answer

The text states that "Americans have become more tolerant over the course of American history."

Question 4

In evaluating the extent to which a political system is democratic, the conclusion to the text raises all of the following issues except

Accepted Answer

The text does not raise the issue of whether there is a two-party system as opposed to a multi-party system when evaluating the extent to which a political system is democratic.

Question 5

The text quotes a statement by political scientist Robert Dahl about a large corporation being inherently a political system mainly to

Accepted Answer

The quote by Dahl implies that the boundaries between the private and public realms can be blurred, indicating that large corporations have political dimensions that are not always recognized.

Question 6

Which president disguised covert efforts in an illegal scheme to help Contra rebels in Nicaragua fight a guerilla war against the elected leftist Sandinista government?

Accepted Answer

The president who disguised covert efforts in an illegal scheme to help Contra rebels in Nicaragua fight a guerilla war against the elected leftist Sandinista government was Ronald Reagan. This scheme was commonly referred to as the Iran-Contra Affair.

Question 7

According to the text, challenge to the concentration and uneven distribution of wealth and power in the United States depends in large part on

Accepted Answer

The text states that the challenge to the concentration and uneven distribution of wealth and power in the United States depends on informed and active political participation, indicating that individuals must become involved in the political process in order to effect change.

Question 8

According to the text, the dominant way people in the United States manage their understanding of the relationship between democracy and capitalism is

Accepted Answer

The dominant way people in the United States manage their understanding of the relationship between democracy and capitalism is by subscribing to a set of values called the American dream. This concept encapsulates the belief in the possibility of success and upward mobility through hard work and determination within a capitalist society, which is often seen as being inherently linked with democratic values.

Question 9

According to the text, the environmental movement's successes include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The environmental movement has successfully introduced regulations to safeguard drinking water, protect consumer safety, increase occupational health and safety, and safeguard the air we breathe. However, pressing the United States to sign the Kyoto Protocol limiting carbon emissions, although a major goal of the environmental movement, has not yet been achieved.

Question 10

The text distinguishes between structural change and conscious, voluntary political change. What are the differences between the two kinds of change? In what ways, according to the text, are the two not independent of each other?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The text distinguishes between structural change and...

Question 11

In discussing the relationship between capitalism and democracy, the text quotes a study that says

Accepted Answer

The study cited in the text argues that capitalism tends to value individuals based on their contributions to production, while democracy attributes equal value to all people, regardless of their economic contributions. Therefore, option A is the best choice.

Question 12

Summarize the parallels drawn by the text between baseball and U.S. politics.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Summarize the parallels drawn by the text...

Question 13

According to the text, democracy maximizes

Accepted Answer

The text suggests that democracy maximizes freedom and participation.

Question 14

According to the text, capitalism maximizes

Accepted Answer

Capitalism is an economic system primarily focused on the maximization of earnings and profit through free market competition.

Question 15

The text states that the perspective provided by the American dream permits more than one kind of public policy. Summarize the evidence and arguments presented by the book in support of that statement.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The text states that the perspective provided...

Question 16

Summarize the arguments and evidence presented in the text to support the book's claim that the tension between democracy and capitalism is at the very core of U.S. politics.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Summarize the arguments and evidence presented in...

Question 17

According to the text, the American dream stresses the importance of

Accepted Answer

The text states that the American dream emphasizes the importance of "equality of opportunity," which suggests that everyone should have an equal chance to achieve success and prosperity, regardless of their background or social status. This is a core value of the American dream, and is often cited as a key reason why many people come to the United States in search of a better life. While patriotism, moral values, and voting may all be important aspects of American culture and society, they are not necessarily central to the concept of the American dream as outlined in the text. The idea of everyone having the same income is not specifically mentioned in the text, but it is unlikely to be a key component of the American dream, as this goes against the idea of individual success and achievement.

Question 18

According to the text, during the New Deal the quest for equality of opportunity

Accepted Answer

The text states that during the New Deal, the quest for equality of opportunity led to a push for a more effective government that could limit the inequalities generated by the economic system. This suggests that there was a recognition that the government needed to play a role in promoting greater equality and that this required an expansion of government actions and programs. Option A is incorrect because the push was not for smaller government, but rather for a more effective government. Option C is incorrect because the quest for equality of opportunity was not abandoned during the New Deal. Option D is incorrect because the text does not suggest that equality of opportunity was largely achieved for all people in the United States during the New Deal. Option E is partially correct, as the text suggests that equality of opportunity was largely achieved for whites but not for people of color, but it is not the best answer as it does not fully capture the main focus of the text.

Question 19

When asked in opinion surveys, most Americans ______________ the proposition that "government should limit the amount of money any individual is allowed to earn in a year."

Accepted Answer

Most Americans do not support the proposition that the government should limit the amount of money any individual is allowed to earn in a year. Therefore, they would disagree with the proposition.

Question 20

According to the text, U.S. politics resembles baseball mainly because

Accepted Answer

The text states that both U.S. politics and baseball have a mobilization of bias which favors those with more assets. This is the similarity between the two that is highlighted in the passage. The other options either do not have any parallels mentioned in the text or are incorrect.

Quiz 12: Democracys Character and Future