Sociology 103 - Chapter 3 & 4 - Reading Questions (Spring 2018)

Which of the following best depicts Marx's concept of alienation from the process of one's labor? a. A supermarket cashier always scans store coupons before company coupons because she was taught to do it that way. b. A businessman feels that he deserves a raise, but is nervous to ask his manager of one; instead, he confronts himself with the idea that hard work is its own reward. c. An associate professor is afraid that she won't be given tenure and starts spreading rumors about one of her associates to make herself look better. d. A construction worker is laid off and takes a job at a fast food restaurant temporarily, although he has never had an interest in preparing food before

a) A supermarket cashier always scans store coupons before company coupons because she was taught to do it that way.

The Ku Klux Klan is an example of what part of culture? a. Counterculture b. Subculture c. Multiculturalism d. Afrocentricity

a) Counterculture

An example of high culture is ___________, whereas an example of popular culture would be ____________. a. Dostoevsky style in film; "American Idol" winners b. medical marijuana; film noir c. country music; pop music d. political theory; sociological theory

a) Dostoevsky style in film; "American Idol" winners

The concept of the iron cage was popularized by which of the following sociological thinkers? a. Max Weber b. Karl Marx c. Émile Durkheim d. Friedrich Engels

a) Max Weber

Mary works full-time at an office downtown while her young children stay at a neighbor's house. She's just learned that the childcare provider is leaving the country. Mary has succumbed to pressure to volunteer at her church, plus her ailing mother-in-law will be moving in with her next month. Which of the following is likely to occur as Mary tries to balance her existing and new responsibilities? a. Role strain b. Self-fulfilling prophecy c. Status conflict d. Status strain

a) Role strain

Which of the following occupations is a person of power most likely to have in an information society? a. Software engineer b. Coal miner c. Children's book author d. Sharecropper

a) Software engineer

The Occupy Wall Street movement of 2011 grew to be an international movement. Supporters believe that the economic disparity between the highest economic class and the mid to lower economic classes is growing at an exponentially alarming rate. A sociologist who studies that movement by examining the interactions between members at Occupy camps would most likely use what theoretical approach? a. Symbolic interactionism b. Functionalism c. Conflict theory d. Ethnocentrism

a) Symbolic interactionism

Your 83-year-old grandmother has been using a computer for some time now. As a way to keep in touch, you frequently send e-mails of a few lines to let her know about your day. She calls after every mail to respond point by point, but she has never e-mailed a response back. This can be viewed as an example of: a. cultural lag b. innovation c. ethnocentricity d. xenophobia

a) culture lag

Rodney & Elise are american students studying abroad in Italy. When they are introduced to their host families, the families kiss them on both cheeks. When Rodney's host brother introduces himself and kisses Rodney on both cheeks, Rodney pulls away by surprise. What is this? a) culture shock b) imperialism c) ethnocentrism d) xenocentrism

a) culture shock

Émile Durkheim's ideas about society can best be described as ________. a. functionalist b. conflict theorist c. symbolic interactionist d. rationalist

a) functionalist

That McDonald's is found in almost every country around the world is an example of: a. globalization b. diffusion c. culture lag d. xenocentrism

a) globalization

According to Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann, society is based on ________. a. habitual actions b. status c. institutionalization d. role performance

a) habitual actions

The biggest difference between mores and folkways is that: a. mores are primarily linked to morality, whereas folkways are primarily linked to commonplace within a culture b. mores are absolute, whereas folkways are temporary c. mores refer to material culture, whereas folkways refer to nonmaterial culture d. mores refer to nonmaterial culture, whereas folkways refer to material culture

a) mores are primarily linked to morality, whereas folkways are primarily linked to commonplace within a culture

A nation's flag is: a) symbol b) a value c) a culture d) a folkway

a) symbol

The major difference between invention and discovery is: a. Invention is based on technology, whereas discovery is usually based on culture b. Discovery involves finding something that already exists, but invention puts things together in a new way c. Invention refers to material culture, whereas discovery can be material or theoretic, like laws of physics d. Invention is typically used to refer to international objects, whereas discovery refers to that which is local to one's culture

b) Discovery involves finding something that already exists, but invention puts things together in a new way

The "American Dream"—the notion that anybody can be successful and rich if they work hard enough—is most commonly associated with which sociological theory? a. Sociobiology b. Functionalism c. Conflict theory d. Ethnocentrism

b) Functionalism

What theoretical perspective views society as having a system of interdependent inherently connected parts? a. Sociobiology b. Functionalism c. Conflict theory d. Ethnocentrism

b) Functionalism

Organic solidarity is most likely to exist in which of the following types of societies? a. Hunter-gatherer b. Industrial c. Agricultural d. Feudal

b) Industrial

The notion that people cannot feel or experience something that they do not have a word for can be explained by: a. linguistics b. Sapir-Whorf c. Ethnographic imagery d. bilingualism

b) Sapir-Whorf

The terms _____ and _____ are often used interchangeably, but have nuances that differentiate them. a. imperialism and relativism b. culture and society c. society and ethnocentrism d. ethnocentrism and xenocentrism

b) culture and society

Paco knows that women find him attractive, and he's never found it hard to get a date. But as he ages, he dyes his hair to hide the gray and wears clothes that camouflage the weight he has put on. Paco's behavior can be best explained by the concept of ___________. a. role strain b. the looking-glass self c. role performance d. habitualization

b) the looking-glass self

A sociologist conducts research into the ways that Hispanic American students are historically underprivileged in the American education system. What theoretical approach is the sociologist using? a. Symbolic interactionism b. Functionalism c. Conflict theory d. Ethnocentrism

c) Conflict theory

Which of the following societies were the first to have permenent residents? a. Industrial b. Hunter-gatherer c. Horticultural d. Feudal

c) Horticultural

Cultural sanctions can also be viewed as ways that society: a. Establishes leaders b. Determines language c. Regulates behavior d. Determines laws

c) Regulates behavior

Which of the following fictional societies is an example is an example of a pastoral society? a. The Deswan people, who live in small tribes and base their economy on the production and trade of textiles b. The Rositian Clan, a small community of farmers who have lived on their family's land for centuries c. The Hunti, a wandering group of nomads who specialize in breeding and training horses d. The Amaganda, an extended family of warriors who serve a single noble family.

c) The Hunti, a wandering group of nomads who specialize in breeding and training horses

According to Marx, the _______ own the means of production in a society. a. proletariart b. vassals c. bourgeoisie d. anomie

c) bourgeoisie

The existence of social norms, both formal and informal, is one of the main things that inform ___________, otherwise known as a way to encourage social conformity. a. values b. sanctions c. social control d. mores

c) social control

Modern-day hipsters are an example of: a. ethnocentricity b. counterculture c. subculture d. high culture

c) subculture

The belief that one's culture is inferior to another culture is called: a) ethnocentrism b) nationalism c) xenocentrism d) imperialsim

c) xenocentrism

The Protestant work ethic is based on the concept of predestination, which states that ________. a. performing good deeds in life is the only way to secure a spot in Heaven b. salvation is only achievable through obedience to God c. no person can be saved before he or she accepts Jesus Christ as his or her savior d. God has already chosen those who will be saved and those who will be damned

d) God has already chosen those who will be saved and those who will be damned

Some jobs today advertise in multinational markets and permit telecommuting in lieu of working from a primary location. This broadening of the job market and the way that jobs are performed can be attributed to: a. cultural lag b. innovation c. discovery d. globalization

d) globalization

The American flag is a material object that denotes the United States of America; however, there are certain connotations that many associate with the flag, like bravery & freedom. In this example, what are bravery & freedom? a) Symbols b) Language c) Material culture d) Nonmaterial culture

d) nonmaterial culture

Most cultures have been found to identify laughter as a sign of humor, joy, or pleasure. likewise, most cultures recognize music in some form. music & laughter are examples of: a) relativism b) ethnocentrism c) xenocentrism d) universalism

d) universalism