Question 1

Since the 1990s, large numbers of people who had received welfare assistance such as AFDC have moved into the workforce

Accepted Answer

This is a well-documented trend that has been occurring in the United States since the 1990s, when welfare reforms were enacted to encourage work and decrease welfare dependency. Many people who had previously relied on welfare assistance, such as the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, were able to find jobs and leave welfare rolls. This trend has continued in the years since, with more people transitioning from welfare to work.

Question 2

The poor in the United States are increasingly likely to be:
A) Asian immigrants
B) on welfare
C) children
D) elderly

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019, children under the age of 18 had the highest poverty rate (14.4%) compared to any other age group. This means that they are more likely to be poor than the elderly or Asian immigrants. While some individuals on welfare may be poor, not all poor individuals are on welfare, so option B is not the best choice.

Question 3

A recent study found that half of all Americans had at one time
A) been on AFDC or TANF
B) been homeless
C) used food stamps
D) collected disability insurance

Accepted Answer

The study found that half of all Americans had used food stamps at some point in their lives. This shows the prevalence and need for government assistance programs to provide food for those who may not have easy access to it. The other options (A, B, D) are much less common and would not be expected to apply to such a large portion of the population.

Question 4

A key element in homelessness since the 1970s has been
A) a growing lack of affordable housing
B) a surge in the number of poor refugees
C) rising rates of mental illness
D) continued economic recession

Accepted Answer

The lack of affordable housing has been a consistent factor in the issue of homelessness since the 1970s. As housing costs increase, it becomes more difficult for low-income individuals and families to find and maintain stable housing, leading to homelessness for many.

Question 5

An important recent shift in the homeless population is that more of the homeless are now
A) alcoholic
B) women with children
C) single men
D) living in flophouses

Accepted Answer

The best choice is B, women with children. This is because there has been an increase in the number of homeless families, particularly those headed by single women with children, in recent years. While there may also be shifts in alcoholism rates and living situations, the increase in homeless families is the most significant trend.

Question 6

A major component of the 1996 Welfare Reform act was to encourage
A) welfare-to-work rules
B) full-employment policies
C) universal health coverage
D) higher minimum wage guidelines

Accepted Answer

The 1996 Welfare Reform act included welfare-to-work rules, which aimed to encourage individuals receiving welfare benefits to find employment and become self-sufficient. The other choices (B, C, and D) are not major components of the 1996 Welfare Reform act.

Question 7

One of the creations of the Roosevelt New Deal of the 1930s was Social Security

Accepted Answer

Social Security was created by the Roosevelt New Deal in 1935 as a way to provide retirement benefits and a safety net for older Americans.

Question 8

Poverty in the U.S. decreased the most dramatically during
A) the 1930s
B) the 1960s
C) the 1970s
D) the 1980s

Accepted Answer

The 1960s saw a significant decrease in poverty in the U.S. due to the implementation of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty" programs, such as Medicaid, food stamps, and job training programs. This led to a decrease in the national poverty rate from around 22% in the early 1960s to around 12% by the early 1970s.

Question 9

David Ellwood and others have argued that working poor families should be supported by universal health care and expanded
A) enterprise zones
B) school-to-work policies
C) earned income tax credits
D) restrictive covenants

Accepted Answer

Universal health care and expanded earned income tax credits are both mentioned in the sentence as support for working poor families. However, the other two options (enterprise zones and restrictive covenants) are not directly related to supporting low-income families. School-to-work policies could potentially help working poor families, but it is not explicitly mentioned in the sentence as a proposed solution. Therefore, C - earned income tax credits - is the best choice.

Question 10

Since the 1970s, the real dollar value of the minimum wage has
A) increased
B) declined
C) been determined by the states themselves
D) remained constant

Accepted Answer

Since the 1970s, the real dollar value of the minimum wage has declined. In other words, the minimum wage has not kept pace with inflation and the cost of living, resulting in a decrease in purchasing power for those earning the minimum wage.

Question 11

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) was replaced in 1996 by a new program called
A) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
B) the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
C) the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
D) the Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Accepted Answer

AFDC was replaced by Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) in 1996 as part of welfare reform. The other options listed are unrelated to AFDC or its replacement program.

Question 12

The highest poverty rates in the U.S. are experienced by
A) Hispanics
B) Native Americans
C) Whites
D) Asian Americans

Accepted Answer

Native Americans consistently have the highest poverty rates among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019, the poverty rate among Native Americans was 25.8%, significantly higher than the national poverty rate of 10.5%. While poverty rates are also high among other minority groups, including Hispanics and African Americans, Native Americans have the highest poverty rates overall.

Question 13

Robert Kennedy read Galbraith's The Affluent Society and decided that there was no longer a poverty problem in the United States

Accepted Answer

While Robert Kennedy was influenced by Galbraith's ideas, he did not believe that poverty had been eradicated in the United States. Instead, he argued that the affluent society had a moral obligation to address the remaining pockets of poverty and inequality.

Question 14

Lyndon Johnson responded to disturbing studies of poverty, such as Michael Harrington's The Other America, with a call
A) to end welfare as we know it
B) to institute social security
C) to defend freedom in Vietnam
D) for a war on poverty

Accepted Answer

Lyndon Johnson responded to disturbing studies of poverty, such as Michael Harrington's The Other America, with a call for a war on poverty. This led to the creation of programs such as Head Start, Medicaid, and the Job Corps in an effort to combat poverty in the United States.

Question 15

Once someone gets a job, they rarely remain below or near the poverty level

Accepted Answer

Many individuals who are employed can still remain near or below the poverty level due to low wages, part-time work, lack of benefits, or living in areas with high costs of living. This phenomenon is often referred to as the working poor.

Question 16

Compared to other nations, the United States
A) has the longest life expectancy
B) has the lowest infant mortality rate
C) has the healthiest population
D) spends the most on healthcare

Accepted Answer

The United States spends the highest amount on healthcare compared to any other nation. However, it does not have the longest life expectancy or the lowest infant mortality rate, and its population faces various health challenges such as obesity and chronic diseases.

Question 17

As part of the New Deal programs, the Roosevelt administration initiated
A) school-to-work programs
B) public work projects such as the WPA and CCC
C) a national network of enterprise zones
D) the new international division of labor

Accepted Answer

The Roosevelt administration initiated various public work projects as part of the New Deal programs, including the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). These projects aimed to provide employment opportunities and improve the country's infrastructure and natural resources. School-to-work programs, a national network of enterprise zones, and the new international division of labor were not part of the New Deal programs.

Question 18

European welfare states believe that
A) a major priority should be to move people from welfare to work
B) capitalism should be abandoned as an economic system
C) the national government is responsible for the welfare of all its citizens
D) the main goal of an effective national government is to lower taxes

Accepted Answer

European welfare states typically emphasize the role of the national government in ensuring the welfare and well-being of all citizens, often through comprehensive social safety nets and public services.

Question 19

The highest child poverty rates in the advanced industrial world, after all government help has been received, are in
A) Germany
B) France
C) Great Britain
D) the United States

Accepted Answer

The United States has one of the highest child poverty rates in the advanced industrial world, even after government assistance has been received. According to a 2019 UNICEF report, the child poverty rate in the United States was 18% compared to 10% in Germany, 14% in France, and 16% in Great Britain.

Question 20

President Lyndon Johnson declared a War on Poverty

Accepted Answer

In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson announced a War on Poverty as part of his Great Society agenda. This included the creation of programs such as Head Start, Job Corps, and the Food Stamp program aimed at reducing poverty and promoting economic opportunity for all Americans.

Quiz 11: Reversing the Race to the Bottom: Poverty and Policy

Since the 1990s, large numbers of people who had received welfare assistance such as AFDC have moved into the workforce

The poor in the United States are increasingly likely to be:

A recent study found that half of all Americans had at one time

A key element in homelessness since the 1970s has been

An important recent shift in the homeless population is that more of the homeless are now

A major component of the 1996 Welfare Reform act was to encourage

One of the creations of the Roosevelt New Deal of the 1930s was Social Security

Poverty in the U.S. decreased the most dramatically during

David Ellwood and others have argued that working poor families should be supported by universal health care and expanded

Since the 1970s, the real dollar value of the minimum wage has

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) was replaced in 1996 by a new program called

The highest poverty rates in the U.S. are experienced by

Robert Kennedy read Galbraith's The Affluent Society and decided that there was no longer a poverty problem in the United States

Lyndon Johnson responded to disturbing studies of poverty, such as Michael Harrington's The Other America, with a call

Once someone gets a job, they rarely remain below or near the poverty level

Compared to other nations, the United States

As part of the New Deal programs, the Roosevelt administration initiated

European welfare states believe that

The highest child poverty rates in the advanced industrial world, after all government help has been received, are in

President Lyndon Johnson declared a War on Poverty