Question 1

In the discussion of poverty and children in the United States, which of the following statements was not cited?

Accepted Answer

The statement that "Children as a group are better off now than in any previous decade" was not cited in the discussion of poverty and children in the United States.

Question 2

__________ poverty exists when people may be able to afford basic necessities but are still unable to maintain an average standard of living.

Accepted Answer

Relative poverty is defined as a lack of resources compared to others in one's society. It is characterized by an inability to maintain an average standard of living, even if basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing are affordable. Absolute poverty, on the other hand, is defined as a lack of resources necessary to meet basic needs, such as food, water, and shelter, regardless of how one's standard of living compares to others in their society. Official and objective poverty are not defined categories of poverty but may refer to poverty measures used by governments or other institutions.

Question 3

The U.S. Social Security Administration has established an official poverty line. The poverty line is computed by __________.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Social Security Administration established the poverty line by determining the cost of a minimally nutritious diet (short-term) and multiplying this figure by three to allow for nonfood costs.

Question 4

About two-thirds of all adults living in poverty are women. In 2006, single-parent families headed by women had a __________ percent poverty rate as compared with a 10 percent poverty rate for two-parent families.

Accepted Answer

According to the information given, single-parent families headed by women had a poverty rate of 28% while two-parent families had a poverty rate of 10%. Therefore, the correct choice is C, which represents a poverty rate of 28%.

Question 5

Today, great disparities exist in the distribution of educational resources. Because funding for education comes primarily from __________, school districts in wealthy suburban areas generally pay higher teachers' salaries, have newer buildings, and provide state-of-the-art equipment.

Accepted Answer

Funding for education primarily comes from local property taxes, so school districts in wealthy suburban areas with higher property values are able to contribute more to education funding and thus have better resources.

Question 6

According to the text's discussion of race, ethnicity, and poverty __________.

Accepted Answer

The text explicitly states that there is a disproportionate percentage of African Americans, Latinos/as, and Native Americans in the impoverished population of the United States. This implies that race and ethnicity are strongly correlated with poverty. Options A, B, and D are incorrect based on the information presented in the text.

Question 7

Structural problems contribute to both unemployment and underemployment. Corporations have been disinvesting in the United States, displacing millions of people from their jobs. Economists refer to this displacement as the __________ of America.

Accepted Answer

Deindustrialization refers to the decline in industrial activity, including the closure or relocation of factories, which leads to job losses and economic decline in the affected regions. This has been a major contributor to unemployment and underemployment in the United States, particularly in areas that were once strongholds of manufacturing.

Question 8

Critics of the living wage concept argue that a living wage requirement, or even an increase in the federal minimum wage will lead to all except:

Accepted Answer

Critics of the living wage concept argue that it may lead to inflation, higher costs of living, and increased unemployment, but it does not directly cause a rise in federal and social security taxes.

Question 9

Which statement concerning poverty and stratification is false?

Accepted Answer

Many social programs for children have not necessarily been increased; in fact, funding for such programs often faces cuts or stagnation.

Question 10

__________ often has life-threatening consequences, such as when a homeless person freezes to death on a park bench.

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of absolute poverty, which refers to a lack of basic necessities like food, shelter, and clothing that can lead to life-threatening consequences.

Question 11

When considering age, _______ have the highest percentage living in poverty no matter which age group one looks at.

Accepted Answer

African-Americans have the highest percentage living in poverty no matter which age group one looks at.

Question 12

Educationally, no matter which racial group, those with _______ have the highest rates living in poverty.

Accepted Answer

Regardless of race, those who did not obtain a high school diploma have the highest rates of living in poverty.

Question 13

__________ poverty exists when people do not have the means to secure the most basic necessities of life.

Accepted Answer

Absolute poverty refers to a condition where individuals or groups do not have access to the basic needs of life, such as food, water, shelter, and health care. It is not based on comparison with others in society, unlike relative poverty. Official poverty is a measure used by governments to determine the number of people living below a certain income threshold. Subjective poverty refers to an individual's perception of their own level of poverty compared to others.

Question 14

According to some analysts, we should replace the minimum wage with the minimum

Accepted Answer

Replacing the minimum wage with the minimum living wage would ensure that workers earn a wage that is sufficient to cover their basic needs, such as food, housing, and healthcare. This would also help to reduce poverty and inequality, as low-wage workers would have a better standard of living. Therefore, option A is the best choice. The other options are not as suitable, as they do not provide a clear definition or framework for determining an adequate wage for workers.

Question 15

In 2006, __________ million people lived below the official government poverty level of $20,794 for a family of four.

Accepted Answer

In 2006, approximately 37 million people in the United States were living below the official government poverty level for a family of four, which was set at $20,794.

Question 16

Regarding the relationship between race/ethnicity and poverty, which of the following statistical data is not accurate?

Accepted Answer

The statement that 50 percent of African Americans were among the officially poor in 2004 is not accurate. The actual percentage was significantly lower.

Question 17

By July of 2009, the minimum wage per hour will be

Accepted Answer

The current minimum wage as of 2021 is $7.25 per hour. This wage was set in July of 2009 and has not been raised since. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer.

Question 18

According to sociologist Diana Pearce, __________refers to the trend in which women are disproportionately represented among individuals living in poverty.

Accepted Answer

The term "feminization of poverty" refers to the trend in which women are disproportionately represented among individuals living in poverty. This concept has been developed by sociologist Diana Pearce.

Question 19

Which age group (of all races) has the highest percentage living in poverty

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which age group (of all races) has...

Question 20

Social inequality and poverty have both economic and structural sources. According to your text, the major cause of poverty is __________.

Accepted Answer

The text suggests that the low wages paid for many jobs is the major cause of poverty, meaning that people are not able to earn enough to sustain themselves and their families. It is not supported by the text that people are unwilling to work, that governmental programs have perpetuated poverty, or that people's desire for immediate gratification and overuse of credit cards are the major cause of poverty.

Quiz 7: Class and Stratification in the United States.