Question 1

Manuel does not have the food, clothing, or shelter to survive another cold winter. Manuel is experiencing:

Accepted Answer

Absolute Poverty refers to a condition where an individual does not have the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, and shelter, to sustain life. Manuel's situation directly aligns with this definition.

Question 2

Barbara's annual income is only $65.00 above the poverty line. Because her income is so close to the poverty line, Barbara is considered:

Accepted Answer

Barbara is considered "Near Poor" because her income is just above the poverty line, indicating she is close to being in poverty but not officially under the threshold.

Question 3

There is a telethon on channel 57 right now. The sponsors are asking viewers to phone in donations to feed the starving children in Haiti. These children, who do not have enough food to survive, are experiencing:

Accepted Answer

Absolute Poverty refers to a condition where individuals do not have enough resources to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. The description of children in Haiti not having enough food to survive is a clear example of absolute poverty, where the basic necessity of food is not met.

Question 4

Norm aims to become a wealthy man within the next ten years. He wants to know if wealthy men are more likely to be single or married. Norm asks his sociology professor and the professor replies:

Accepted Answer

Studies and statistics have shown that in the U.S., the wealthiest individuals are more likely to be married. This correlation does not necessarily imply causation but indicates a trend where marriage and wealth are often connected.

Question 5

Jawanna works at the school cafeteria. When most students go home for the summer months, the cafeteria temporarily downsizes the staff. Jawanna is usually out of work between May and August. This temporary state reflects:

Accepted Answer

Marginal poverty refers to a temporary state of poverty that occurs when an individual is out of work for a short period, such as seasonal workers or those between jobs. In Jawanna's case, her lack of work from May to August each year due to the school cafeteria's downsizing for the summer months is a clear example of marginal poverty.

Question 6

Wanda is moving to Japan to teach English. Because she will be out of the U.S. for five years, Wanda wants to sell all of her material possessions including a condominium, a car, furniture, and electronics. These possessions, along with the money that Wanda has in the bank, are valued at $330,000. This $330,000 reflects Wanda's:

Accepted Answer

The $330,000 value of Wanda's material possessions and bank money represents her wealth, which is the total value of all assets owned by an individual.

Question 7

Levi is a physician. He has the ability to get the nurses to do what he wants them to do. He tells them what to do with the patients and when to do it. This ability to impose his will on others reflects Levi's:

Accepted Answer

Levi's ability to get the nurses to do what he wants them to do, by telling them what to do with the patients and when to do it, reflects his power. Power is the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.

Question 8

Eileen is eligible to receive assistive services like food stamps, health care, and housing from the government. This suggests that:

Accepted Answer

Eileen's eligibility for assistive services such as food stamps, health care, and housing typically indicates that her income is below the poverty line, as these services are often designed to support individuals and families with limited financial resources.

Question 9

Many factory workers join unions because unions are able to impose the will of the employees onto the employers. As such, unions wield a great amount of:

Accepted Answer

Unions are organizations that represent the collective interests of workers, often negotiating with employers on matters such as wages, working conditions, and benefits. The ability to impose the will of the employees onto the employers demonstrates a significant amount of power, as it involves influencing or directing the actions and policies of the employers.

Question 10

Zela is a very religious woman. She believes husbands are the head of the household and that wives should submit to their husbands' wills. Zela believes that husbands have been given power over women by God. From Zela's perspective, the husband's power is:

Accepted Answer

Zela's belief that husbands have been given power over women by God indicates that the power is delegated. Delegated power is authority given by a higher entity, in this case, God, according to Zela's belief.

Question 11

In the United States, the power elite is made up of:

Accepted Answer

The power elite in the United States typically consists of high-ranking political officials, military leaders, and corporate leaders, as they hold significant influence over national decisions and policies.

Question 12

In India, society is divided into 4 different groups called castes. The castes are ranked from the highest to the lowest and certain societal rewards are given to those in the higher castes, but withheld from the lower castes. This ranking is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The caste system in India is a classic example of social stratification, where society is divided into hierarchical layers, and individuals' positions are influenced by their birth or occupation. This system assigns social status, roles, and rewards unequally.

Question 13

Malcolm was born into a poor family. Both of his parents were also born into poor families. Even more, Malcolm's grandparents were born into poor families. This reflects:

Accepted Answer

Residual poverty refers to chronic and persistent poverty that is passed down from one generation to the next, as seen in Malcolm's family history.

Question 14

Mona makes $600 per night as a private dancer. This figure represents Mona's:

Accepted Answer

Income refers to the money that someone earns from their work or investments. In this case, the $600 Mona makes per night as a private dancer is the amount she earns from her job, which is her income.

Question 15

Professor Kaegen is conducting research on gender bias in poverty. Professor Kaegen is examining:

Accepted Answer

The term "Feminization of Poverty" refers to the phenomenon where women experience poverty at rates that are disproportionately high compared to men. This concept is widely studied in gender and poverty research, making it the correct choice for Professor Kaegen's focus.

Question 16

Jenny went to college intending to meet a potential mate, not to receive a degree. She dated fourteen guys in three years. In an effort to determine who will make the very best husband, Jenny has ranked the fourteen young men in terms of their wealth, power, and prestige. Jenny is using a system of:

Accepted Answer

Jenny is using a system of Social Stratification, which involves ranking individuals or groups based on wealth, power, and prestige. This system allows for comparison and hierarchy, which is what Jenny is applying to her potential mates.

Question 17

Professor Fuentes is teaching her students about the three components of the social stratification system. She tells them that the three components are:

Accepted Answer

The three components of the social stratification system are Power, Wealth, and Prestige. These elements are widely recognized in sociological literature as the key indicators of an individual's or group's position within the social hierarchy.

Question 18

Elizabeth and Harry are divorced. Elizabeth receives $12,000 per month in alimony from her ex- husband and $6,000 per month from her job as a college professor for a total of $18,000 per month. This $18,000 per month represents Elizabeth's:

Accepted Answer

The $18,000 per month that Elizabeth receives is a sum of money obtained regularly, which defines it as her income. Income refers to money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments.

Question 19

The Cedar River Restaurant recently went out of business. Luanne, who was a waitress there, is now between jobs. She is putting in applications and interviewing to find a new position. In the mean time, Luanne is experiencing:

Accepted Answer

Luanne is experiencing Transitional Poverty because her situation is temporary, occurring as she transitions between jobs. Transitional poverty is characterized by short-term financial difficulties due to changes in employment status or other temporary conditions.

Question 20

Terry lives in a shabby apartment and uses public transportation to get around. Larry owns a deluxe home and drives a brand new Mercedes. Compared to Larry, Terry is experiencing:

Accepted Answer

Terry is experiencing Relative Poverty, which is defined by one's economic status in comparison to the living standards of the majority in a given society. In this case, Terry's situation is being compared to Larry's, who has a higher standard of living. Absolute poverty, on the other hand, refers to a lack of basic necessities, which doesn't seem to be Terry's case as there's no mention of him lacking essentials like food, water, or shelter. Residual and Transitional Poverty are specific types of poverty related to temporary situations or societal safety nets, neither of which are directly indicated in the scenario provided.

Quiz 7: Social Class in the United States