Question 1

Social stratification refers to ______.
A) a large number of people with similar amounts of income and education
B) one's social ranking
C) the degree to which people feel a part of social groups
D) the ranking of individuals into social strata or groups

Accepted Answer

Social stratification refers to the division of people into different social strata or groups based on factors like wealth, power, and status. This division results in the ranking of individuals, and determines their access to resources and opportunities in society.

Question 2

Which is TRUE of the poverty threshold?
A) It fails to include foster children or families living in military barracks.
B) It is set at twice the cost of the economy food plan.
C) It varies by geographic location.
D) It was originally based on the consumer price index.

Accepted Answer

The poverty threshold does not include foster children or families living in military barracks, reflecting its limitations in capturing all forms of economic hardship.

Question 3

Which area of the United States has the highest poverty rate?
A) West
B) South
C) Midwest
D) Northeast

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the South has the highest poverty rate as of 2019, with a rate of 14.1% compared to the West's 10.8%, the Midwest's 10.5%, and the Northeast's 9.4%.

Question 4

The term life chances, coined by Max Weber, explains how each social position provides access to ______.
A) goods and services
B) high positions in government
C) religious enlightenment
D) happiness and self-fulfillment

Accepted Answer

Life chances refer to the opportunities and resources available to individuals based on their social position, such as access to education, healthcare, and job opportunities, which can provide access to goods and services. The other options (B, C, D) are not specifically related to the concept of life chances.

Question 5

______ refers to a lack of necessities, such as food, shelter, and income.
A) Absolute poverty
B) Basic poverty
C) Relative poverty
D) Status poverty

Accepted Answer

Absolute poverty refers to a lack of basic necessities, such as food, shelter, and income, which are essential for survival. This type of poverty is characterized by extreme deprivation and is often observed in developing countries.

Question 6

The term "relative" poverty emphasizes the ______ gap between the richest and poorest Americans.
A) decreasing
B) growing
C) completely nonexistent
D) socially constructed

Accepted Answer

The term "relative" poverty compares the income and standard of living of individuals or households to the overall average or median income and standard of living in society. As the income gap between the richest and poorest Americans has been growing in recent years, the relative poverty gap has also been growing, emphasizing the increasing inequality in society.

Question 7

Based on 2016 figures, which group in the United States has the highest percentage of its members in poverty?
A) non-Hispanic Whites
B) Hispanics
C) blacks
D) Native Americans

Accepted Answer

According to 2016 figures, blacks have the highest percentage of its members in poverty, with a poverty rate of 22%. This is significantly higher than the poverty rates for non-Hispanic Whites (9%), Hispanics (19%), and Native Americans (28%).

Question 8

Which U.S. states had the highest three-year average poverty rates between 2014 and 2016?
A) Louisiana, New Mexico, and Mississippi
B) South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida
C) Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana
D) Montana, Wyoming, and Oklahoma

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the three-year average poverty rates between 2014 and 2016 were highest in Louisiana (19.5%), New Mexico (19.0%), and Mississippi (18.8%).

Question 9

Based on 2016 U.S. poverty figures, what race has the highest numbers of poor in the United States?
A) blacks
B) whites
C) Hispanics
D) Asians

Accepted Answer

Whites have the highest numbers of poor in the United States when considering the total population in poverty, due to their larger population size compared to other racial groups.

Question 10

The ______ is the original federal poverty measure developed by the Social Security Administration and updated each year by the U.S. Census Bureau.
A) Household Food Consumption Survey
B) USDA
C) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
D) Poverty Threshold

Accepted Answer

The Poverty Threshold is the original federal poverty measure developed by the Social Security Administration and updated each year by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Household Food Consumption Survey and USDA are not related to the poverty measure, while Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a federal program designed to assist low-income families with food assistance, but is not the original poverty measure.

Question 11

The USDA based the poverty threshold on the 1955 Household Food Consumption Survey, which found that families of three or more people spent about ______ of their after-tax income on food.
A) one-third
B) one-fourth
C) one-half
D) two-thirds

Accepted Answer

The USDA based the poverty threshold on the assumption that families of three or more spent about one-third of their after-tax income on food, according to the 1955 Household Food Consumption Survey.

Question 12

______ refers to a situation where some people fall below the average income or life style enjoyed by the rest of society.
A) Absolute poverty
B) Basic poverty
C) Relative poverty
D) Status poverty

Accepted Answer

Relative poverty refers to a situation where some people fall below the average income or life style enjoyed by the rest of society. This is in contrast to absolute poverty, which refers to a situation where people do not have enough resources to meet their basic needs. Basic poverty and status poverty are not commonly used terms in discussions of poverty.

Question 13

Which sociological perspective asserts that during periods of economic crisis, the state expands welfare rolls to pacify the poor and reduce the likelihood of serious uprising?
A) feminist
B) interactionist
C) functionalist
D) conflict

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective emphasizes the role of power and coercion in society, and asserts that the economic system produces inequalities between social classes. During times of economic crisis, the state may expand welfare programs as a way to placate the poor and prevent social unrest, therefore the answer is conflict.

Question 14

Which of these would an Interactionist studying poverty be most interested in?
A) the public's perception of welfare and its recipients
B) how poverty helps society operate
C) the welfare policies that disadvantage the poor
D) how the power elite are able to use political action committees

Accepted Answer

An Interactionist would focus on how individuals understand and interpret poverty, including the stereotypes and stigmas associated with welfare recipients. This aligns with the study of symbolic interactionism, which explores how people create meaning through social interactions and the use of symbols.

Question 15

Jane is interested in how the poor provide necessary services for society such as providing jobs for those who serve them. Jane is examining poverty through the ______ perspective.
A) feminist
B) interactionist
C) functionalist
D) conflict

Accepted Answer

The functionalist perspective views society as a system of interrelated parts that work together to maintain social stability and consensus. According to this perspective, even poverty serves a function in society by providing jobs for those who serve the poor, such as social workers or nonprofit organizations.

Question 16

The feminist perspective points out that U.S. welfare policy is shaped by which of these?
A) religious beliefs and corporate influence
B) religious beliefs and the patriarchal family
C) male dominance and corporate influence
D) the patriarchal family and male dominance

Accepted Answer

The feminist perspective highlights how U.S. welfare policy is influenced by the patriarchal family structure and male dominance, emphasizing the gendered nature of policy-making and societal norms.

Question 17

Which of these two perspectives agree that inequality is inevitable in society?
A) functionalism and feminism
B) functionalism and conflict perspectives
C) feminism and interactionist perspectives
D) interactionist and functionalist perspectives

Accepted Answer

Functionalism and conflict perspectives both agree that inequality is inevitable in society. Functionalism believes that inequality exists because different social roles and positions have different levels of importance and rewards, while conflict perspective sees inequality as a result of competition for resources and power between different groups in society.

Question 18

Nancy Fraser argues that there are masculinized and feminized welfare programs. The masculinized program is associated with which of these?
A) the family or household
B) the labor market
C) food security
D) religious beliefs

Accepted Answer

Fraser argues that the masculinized welfare programs are associated with the labor market as they are designed to support male breadwinners and promote paid work as the primary means of support.

Question 19

Nancy Fraser argues that there are masculinized and feminized welfare programs. The feminized program is associated with which of these?
A) the family or household
B) the labor market
C) food security
D) religious beliefs

Accepted Answer

Nancy Fraser argues that feminized welfare programs are associated with the family or household, while masculinized welfare programs are associated with the labor market.

Question 20

What is the term for a set of norm, values and beliefs that encourage and perpetuate poverty?
A) poverty guidelines
B) relative poverty
C) culture of poverty
D) social stratification

Accepted Answer

A culture of poverty refers to a set of norms, values, and beliefs among individuals or groups that perpetuate and reinforce poverty. This culture can include ideas such as a lack of motivation to improve one's financial situation, a belief that poverty is an inevitable part of life, and a distrust of those who are financially successful. It can also involve a lack of access to resources and limited opportunities for advancement.

Quiz 2: Social Class

Social stratification refers to ______.

Which is TRUE of the poverty threshold?

Which area of the United States has the highest poverty rate?

The term life chances, coined by Max Weber, explains how each social position provides access to ______.

______ refers to a lack of necessities, such as food, shelter, and income.

The term "relative" poverty emphasizes the ______ gap between the richest and poorest Americans.

Based on 2016 figures, which group in the United States has the highest percentage of its members in poverty?

Which U.S. states had the highest three-year average poverty rates between 2014 and 2016?

Based on 2016 U.S. poverty figures, what race has the highest numbers of poor in the United States?

The ______ is the original federal poverty measure developed by the Social Security Administration and updated each year by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The USDA based the poverty threshold on the 1955 Household Food Consumption Survey, which found that families of three or more people spent about ______ of their after-tax income on food.

______ refers to a situation where some people fall below the average income or life style enjoyed by the rest of society.

Which sociological perspective asserts that during periods of economic crisis, the state expands welfare rolls to pacify the poor and reduce the likelihood of serious uprising?

Which of these would an Interactionist studying poverty be most interested in?

Jane is interested in how the poor provide necessary services for society such as providing jobs for those who serve them. Jane is examining poverty through the ______ perspective.

The feminist perspective points out that U.S. welfare policy is shaped by which of these?

Which of these two perspectives agree that inequality is inevitable in society?

Nancy Fraser argues that there are masculinized and feminized welfare programs. The masculinized program is associated with which of these?

Nancy Fraser argues that there are masculinized and feminized welfare programs. The feminized program is associated with which of these?

What is the term for a set of norm, values and beliefs that encourage and perpetuate poverty?