Chapter 7 Social Stratification
Josh, a young black adult who grew up poor in New York, is having difficulty in college. He does not know how to dress for "formal" events, how to tie a tie, or own a pair of dress shoes. According to sociologists, Josh lacks: A) Cultural capital B) Class consciousness C) Solidarity D) Prestige
A
According to Marx, which of the following is a characteristic of the proletariat? A) They have the power to create a classless society if they develop a class consciousness. B) They control the means of production. C) They control the norms and values of society. D) All of the above are characteristics of the proletariat.
A
All of the following are main assumptions of stratification except: A) Wealth is the most important resource B) People are divided into ranked categories C) There is an unequal distribution of desired resources D) Each society determines what it considers to be valued resources
A
In __________ stratification systems, the characteristics individuals are born with determine one's position in society. A) ascribed B) achieved C) open D) mobile
A
All of the following are tenets of the structural functionalist view of social stratification except: A) Some positions are more highly valued in society B) Differential rewards must be offered to motivate talented individuals into difficult positions C) Customs and traditions in a society often prevail over rational criteria in determining the distribution of scarce resources D) Differential rewards lead to unequal rewards lead to unequal distribution of resources for occupations in society
C
Since 1969, the middle class in the United States has: A) Decreased B) Increased C) Stayed the same D) Become the elite class
A
The _________ model of power argues that power is shared among many power centers, each of which has their own self-interests to protect. A) pluralist B) power elite C) evolutionary D) estate
A
Which of the following is a macro-level factor that can shape social stratification? A) The economic position of a society B) The amount of education of a person C) The occupational prestige of an individual D) The community's influence on schools
A
First-generation college graduates who become physicians reflect: A) Intragenerational mobility B) Intergenerational mobility C) Horizontal mobility D) Open mobility
B
The __________ model of power suggests that individuals with powerful positions in political, business, and military arenas interact with each other and ensure that their power is not threatened. A) pluralist B) power elite C) conspicuous consumption D) evolutionary
B
Which of the following best describes the observed relationship between religion and social class? A) Religious beliefs are more strongly affiliated with geographic location than social class in the United States. B) Lower-class individuals in the United States are disproportionately represented in fundamentalist religions. C) Upper-class individuals in the United States are disproportionately represented in fundamentalist religions. D) Social stratification in the United States is not seen in observable religious differences.
B
Which of the following is a key assumption of conflict theorists' view of social stratification? A) Differential rewards must be offered to motivate talented individuals into difficult positions. B) Stratification is the outcome of struggles for dominance in scarce resources. C) Stratification is the outcome of values, speech patterns, consumption habits, appropriate group memberships, and self-concepts learned through socialization. D) Customs and traditions in a society often prevail over rational criteria in determining the distribution of scarce resources.
B
Which of the following is a meso-level factor that can shape social stratification? A) Sense of humor B) Political affiliation C) Wearing cool clothing D) Society's level of technology
B
Which of the following is an example of social capital? A) Professional licensure B) Country club membership C) Postdoctoral training D) All of the above
B
Which of the following statements about social classes in the United States is true? A) Upper-middle-class families comprise over 30 percent of the population. B) Wages and salaries for the upper classes have risen in the past 30 years. C) The lower middle class is largely unemployable. D) All of the above are false.
B
Which of the following statements about the middle class in the United States is false? A) It makes up about 30 percent of the population in the United States. B) Wages and salaries in the middle classes have increased since the 1980s. C) Most people in the United States identify as middle class. D) All of the above are true.
B
__________ refers to how individuals are layered or ranked in society according to how many valued resources they possess. A) Social differentiation B) Social stratification C) Social capital D) Social status
B
__________ refers to the extent and direction of individual movement in the social stratification system. A) Social inequality B) Social mobility C) Vertical mobility D) Social stratification
B
________________ theorists argue that poor women in capitalistic economic systems are used as reserve labor force that can be called and dismissed as needed. A) Structural-functionalist B) Conflict C) Symbolic interaction D) Exchange
B
Emily works and makes a modest salary. However, Emily is unable to provide new clothes or a two-bedroom apartment for her or her children. She is experiencing: A) Vertical mobility B) Absolute poverty C) Relative poverty D) Status inconsistency
C
In __________ stratification systems, individuals are allowed to earn positions through their ability and effort. A) ascribed B) closed C) achieved D) mobile
C
Lindsey needs a car to get back and forth from her home in the city to her university, which are 4 miles apart. When shopping for a car, Lindsey decides to buy a Hummer H3 because she wants a car that her peers will notice and respect. Through this purchase, Lindsey exhibits: A) Status inconsistency B) Social capital C) Conspicuous consumption D) Branding
C
The Hindu religion holds that individuals are born into one of four Varna or into a fifth group below the caste system known as the _______________ group. A) Brahmans B) Sudras C) Dalits D) Rajputs
C
The gap between those with access to information technology and those without is known as the: A) Digitally illiterate B) Techno-barrier C) Digital divide D) None of the above
C
What historical event largely shaped conflict theorists' view of social stratification? A) The rise of communism in Russia and China B) The social inequality created in post-World War II United States C) The shift from the feudal system to urban industrialism D) The end of slavery in the United States
C
Which of the following is a micro-level factor that can shape social stratification? A) Religious affiliation B) Family income C) Physical attractiveness D) Occupational structure
C
Which of the following statements do not follow Duncan and Moore's model of inequality? A) Some jobs are, naturally, more prestigious than others. B) "Good" jobs require talent, preparation, and money to do well. C) Stratification is part of the social system. D) Father's occupational prestige influences the child's occupational prestige.
C
Which type of stratification system allows movement between classes? A) Ascribed B) Closed C) Open D) Vertical
C
All of the following are predetermined in caste stratification systems except: A) Occupational position B) Marriage partners C) Where one will live D) How many children an individual will have
D
Although she works 30 hours a week, Natalie is unable to earn enough money to bring her and her sons to the poverty line, according to the income requirement set by the federal government. She and her family are experiencing: A) Relative poverty B) Being in the underclass C) Vertical mobility D) Absolute poverty
D
It is the year 2100 and you are the first sociologist on Mars. Your job is to understand inequality on the Martian Base. Which of the following scenarios would you not expect? A) Inequality exists due to the social allocation of Martian Rocks. B) The scientists have collectively decided that Martian Rocks are valuable. C) The smarter, more sexually attractive scientists are given more Martian Rocks. D) There is no inequality on Mars; it is a utopian society that shares all things equally.
D
Jason is studying race among the homeless. He finds that blacks and Mexicans are more likely to be in "public housing" than whites and Asians. He interprets this finding as "those in power exploiting those without power." Most likely, Jason adheres to: A) Conflict theory B) Symbolic interaction theory C) Structural-functional theory D) Evolutionary theory
D
Which is the highest social caste in India's caste system? A) Kshatriyas B) Rajputs C) Dalits D) Brahmans
D
Which of the following statements about social mobility in the United States is false? A) There is a high level of occupation inheritance. B) The higher the father's occupation level, the better the son's chance for occupational achievement. C) Sons are more likely to move up than down. D) The mobility of women reflects the occupational achievements of their mothers.
D
Which theorist(s) is/are most strongly associated with the structural functionalist view of social stratification? A) Karl Marx B) Gerhard Lenski and Melvin Tumin C) Max Weber D) Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore
D
