Question 1

According to the textbook, what is one of the reasons that slavery does not exist in most societies around the world today?
A) It is an inefficient economic system.
B) Slaves are too expensive to buy.
C) The Civil War outlawed it.
D) Around the world, slavery has always been considered immoral.

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that one reason slavery does not exist in most societies around the world today is that it is an inefficient economic system. Slavery requires the constant monitoring and control of individuals, which can be costly and time-consuming. In addition, industrialization and technological advancements have made it possible to replace the labor of slaves with machinery and other technologies.

Question 2

Karl Marx called those who own the means of production ________ and those who make their living by selling their own labor power for a wage ________.
A) capitalists; the working class
B) producers; consumers
C) merchants; consumers
D) the working class; capitalists

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx referred to those who own the means of production as capitalists and those who make their living by selling their own labor power for a wage as the working class. This fundamental distinction between the two classes is central to Marxist theory.

Question 3

Dr. Smith is an open-heart surgeon who was trained at a top-tier medical school. Which of the following theorists would be most likely to argue that Dr. Smith achieved the position solely based on her own talent and efforts?
A) Kingsley Davis and Wilbert E. Moore
B) Max Weber
C) Karl Marx
D) Charles Murray

Accepted Answer

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert E. Moore are known for their functionalist perspective, which argues that social stratification is necessary and that positions are filled based on merit and talent.

Question 4

Oprah Winfrey was born into poverty and raised by a single mother, yet today she is one of the richest women in America. According to the textbook, the social position we are born into affects our life chances, but our class position is also:
A) based on caste.
B) based on looks.
C) in some part achieved.
D) determined by affirmative action.

Accepted Answer

While our social position at birth does have an impact on our life chances, our class position is not solely based on our caste or looks, nor is it determined by affirmative action. It is possible for individuals to achieve a higher class position through their own efforts and hard work. Therefore, option C is the most accurate as it recognizes the role of achievement in determining class position.

Question 5

A stratification system in which certain people are owned as property is known as:
A) capitalism.
B) caste.
C) estate.
D) slavery.

Accepted Answer

Slavery is a stratification system in which certain people are owned as property, deprived of their rights and forced to work without pay.

Question 6

In systems of stratification, people are typically ranked by:
A) personality.
B) social categories.
C) intelligence.
D) social capital.

Accepted Answer

Systems of stratification typically involve ranking people based on their social category, which can include factors such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, and occupation. While personality, intelligence, and social capital may play a role in an individual's position in society, they are not typically the primary factors used to determine one's place in a stratified system.

Question 7

Andrew is a twenty-something, currently unemployed Jewish male from a wealthy background. Louis is a thirty-year-old Puerto Rican man who currently works in retail. Which difference might Max Weber point to in attempting to understand their respective social statuses?
A) status distinctions
B) class distinctions
C) ethnic distinctions
D) age distinctions

Accepted Answer

The answer of Andrew is a twenty-something, currently unemployed Jewish...

Question 8

The social honor or prestige that other members of society accord to individuals is referred to as:
A) status.
B) reputation.
C) social class.
D) fame.

Accepted Answer

Status refers to the social honor or prestige that individuals hold in society. It is a position or rank that is recognized by others in society. Reputation, social class, and fame are related to status, but they are not the same as status itself.

Question 9

Income inequality has increased dramatically since the 1970s, as the richest 20 percent saw its incomes rise ________, while the poorest 20 percent saw its incomes rise by ________.
A) 54 percent; 1 percent
B) 15 percent; 60 percent
C) 100 percent; 0 percent
D) 75 percent; 95 percent

Accepted Answer

This choice provides the largest disparity between the income growth of the richest and poorest 20 percent, with the richest seeing a significant increase and the poorest seeing little to no growth.

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of a caste system?
A) forcing rural women in Thailand into sex work
B) the racial wealth gap in the United States
C) forcing children to accept their parents' status as their own in India
D) high rates of child poverty in Slovenia

Accepted Answer

Caste system refers to a social stratification system where people are born into a particular social group and cannot move out of it. This description fits the practice of children in India being forced to accept their parents' social status as their own.

Question 11

Today people are taken against their will and forced to work as bricklayers in Pakistan or as sex workers in Thailand. According to the textbook, these examples are best described as:
A) modern-day slavery.
B) a caste system based on occupation.
C) cheap labor in a capitalist system.
D) the worst occupations in a class system.

Accepted Answer

The examples given describe situations of modern-day slavery, which refers to situations of forced labor or human trafficking where individuals are treated as property and forced to work against their will. It is a violation of human rights and a form of exploitation.

Question 12

We can conclude that one of the main differences between a society based on caste versus one based on class is that:
A) boundaries between groups are not prevalent in systems based on class.
B) caste societies are spreading to countries around the world.
C) social mobility is more prevalent in class-based societies.
D) globalization will eventually do away with class positions.

Accepted Answer

In a caste system, social mobility is extremely limited and individuals are born into their designated caste, without much opportunity for advancement. On the other hand, class-based societies have the potential for more social mobility, as individuals can move up or down the class ladder based on factors such as education, occupation, and income. While boundaries between groups do still exist in class-based societies, they are not as rigid as the caste system. Globalization may have an impact on class positions, but it is unlikely to completely do away with the concept of social stratification.

Question 13

Scholars believe that ________ has encouraged a shift to class-based systems in countries such as India that have been traditionally caste-based systems.
A) morality
B) globalization
C) the Internet
D) a high divorce rate

Accepted Answer

Globalization has led to the integration of economies and cultures, and has encouraged a shift towards class-based systems in traditional caste-based societies like India by promoting free market capitalism and merit-based opportunities.

Question 14

Wealth and income are both important determinants of social class. Which of the following best characterizes the relationship between wealth and income in the United States?
A) Income disparities between rich and poor have increased in the past three decades, whereas wealth disparities have decreased during the same time.
B) Wealthy people almost always inherited their money; thus there is no relationship between wealth and income.
C) The same factors that limit people's incomes also limit their ability to accumulate wealth.
D) Whereas race, education, and age influence income, wealth is independent of these variables.

Accepted Answer

Income and wealth are correlated, but they are distinct concepts. Income refers to the amount of money a person earns on a regular basis from work or investment, while wealth refers to a person's net worth or total assets minus debts. The relationship between income and wealth in the United States is complex, but studies have shown that the same factors that limit people's incomes (such as education, race, and gender) also limit their ability to accumulate wealth. In other words, people who earn less also tend to have fewer opportunities to save, invest, and acquire assets that appreciate in value over time. This helps explain why wealth disparities are often more pronounced than income disparities, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities. As such, option C is the best choice. Options A and D are incorrect because income and wealth disparities have both been increasing in the United States in recent decades, and wealth disparities are influenced by a wide range of factors beyond race, education, and age. Option B is also incorrect because most wealthy people in the United States did not inherit their wealth; instead, they acquired it through various means such as entrepreneurship, investing, and real estate.

Question 15

Workers picking strawberries can pick 100 baskets an hour, but the value of 20 baskets is all it costs the employer to pay them their hourly wages. According to Karl Marx, the income the employer collects from the extra baskets is:
A) extra wages.
B) surplus value.
C) wage theft.
D) extra income.

Accepted Answer

According to Karl Marx, the value of labor is determined by the amount of time necessary to produce the worker's wages and support their basic needs. In this scenario, the amount of value produced by the workers beyond what is needed to pay their wages is considered surplus value. The employer profits from this surplus value, which Marx believed was exploitative and unjust. Therefore, the income the employer collects from the extra baskets is considered surplus value.

Question 16

According to Karl Marx, the working class in industrialized countries would remain poor and live near subsistence level. Marx was right about the persistence of poverty in industrialized countries, but he was wrong in thinking that:
A) there would be very few poor people in most industrialized countries.
B) most people would own the means of production collectively in capitalist countries.
C) the income of most of the population would remain extremely low.
D) industrial capitalism would decrease the wealth and income gap.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Karl Marx, the working class...

Question 17

Caste systems like the one in India require that individuals marry within their social group. This is referred to as:
A) caste marriage.
B) endogamy.
C) social marriage.
D) endomarriage.

Accepted Answer

Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a specific social group or category, such as caste in India. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. Options A, C, and D are not accurate terms used to describe this practice.

Question 18

Studies in which people are asked to rate jobs in terms of "prestige" show some differences in ratings by age. Which person would a millennial be most likely to categorize as having the highest occupational prestige?
A) Mary Dolan, a doctor
B) June Brewer, a sociologist
C) Colin Kaepernick, a professional athlete
D) Jerry Valdez, a police officer

Accepted Answer

Millennials are more likely to value social impact and cultural relevance in their careers. Colin Kaepernick, a professional athlete, is known for his activism and social justice work, which aligns with millennial values.

Question 19

One of the main differences between Marx's and Weber's understanding of social class is that:
A) Marx emphasized one's life chances in his understanding of social class.
B) Weber recognized that social classes also differ with respect to their power.
C) Marx put more emphasis on how race and gender intersected with class.
D) Weber argued that social discrimination can lead to class inequality.

Accepted Answer

Marx focused on the economic aspect of social class, whereas Weber recognized that social classes also differ with respect to their power. Weber argued that social status (prestige) and political power also play a role in determining one's social class. This is known as multidimensional approach to social stratification.

Question 20

Davis and Moore's explanation of class stratification differs from that of Marx and Weber because:
A) they tend to focus more on the role of inheritance in attaining social status.
B) they argue that blue-collar occupations deserve more prestige in our society.
C) they argue that one's social position is based on skills, talents, and hard work.
D) they pay more attention to the need for the redistribution of resources to make society more equal and stable.

Accepted Answer

Davis and Moore argue that social stratification is based on meritocracy, where one's social position is determined by their skills, talents, and hard work. This is different from Marx and Weber, who argue that class stratification is based on economic capital and ownership of property. Davis and Moore do not focus on inheritance as a major factor in attaining social status and do not argue for the redistribution of resources as a way to make society more equal and stable. They also do not argue that blue-collar occupations deserve more prestige, but rather that some positions in society are more important and require more specialized skills and education, hence deserving more rewards and social status.

Quiz 7: Stratification, Class, and Inequality

According to the textbook, what is one of the reasons that slavery does not exist in most societies around the world today?

Karl Marx called those who own the means of production and those who make their living by selling their own labor power for a wage .

Dr. Smith is an open-heart surgeon who was trained at a top-tier medical school. Which of the following theorists would be most likely to argue that Dr. Smith achieved the position solely based on her own talent and efforts?

Oprah Winfrey was born into poverty and raised by a single mother, yet today she is one of the richest women in America. According to the textbook, the social position we are born into affects our life chances, but our class position is also:

A stratification system in which certain people are owned as property is known as:

In systems of stratification, people are typically ranked by:

Andrew is a twenty-something, currently unemployed Jewish male from a wealthy background. Louis is a thirty-year-old Puerto Rican man who currently works in retail. Which difference might Max Weber point to in attempting to understand their respective social statuses?

The social honor or prestige that other members of society accord to individuals is referred to as:

Income inequality has increased dramatically since the 1970s, as the richest 20 percent saw its incomes rise , while the poorest 20 percent saw its incomes rise by .

Which of the following is an example of a caste system?

Today people are taken against their will and forced to work as bricklayers in Pakistan or as sex workers in Thailand. According to the textbook, these examples are best described as:

We can conclude that one of the main differences between a society based on caste versus one based on class is that:

Scholars believe that ________ has encouraged a shift to class-based systems in countries such as India that have been traditionally caste-based systems.

Wealth and income are both important determinants of social class. Which of the following best characterizes the relationship between wealth and income in the United States?

Workers picking strawberries can pick 100 baskets an hour, but the value of 20 baskets is all it costs the employer to pay them their hourly wages. According to Karl Marx, the income the employer collects from the extra baskets is:

According to Karl Marx, the working class in industrialized countries would remain poor and live near subsistence level. Marx was right about the persistence of poverty in industrialized countries, but he was wrong in thinking that:

Caste systems like the one in India require that individuals marry within their social group. This is referred to as:

Studies in which people are asked to rate jobs in terms of "prestige" show some differences in ratings by age. Which person would a millennial be most likely to categorize as having the highest occupational prestige?

One of the main differences between Marx's and Weber's understanding of social class is that:

Davis and Moore's explanation of class stratification differs from that of Marx and Weber because: