Chapter 10 Social Class in the United States

In America, which ethnic group has the largest number (not percentage) of children less than 18 years of age living in poverty in 2010? A) White B) African American C) Asian D) Hispanics E) Native Americans

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According of the latest data released in October 2015 on income distribution, illustrating yet again that the middle class is truly vanishing. Which of the following findings support this claim? A) 25% of all American workers make less than $30,000 a year B) 51% of all American workers make less than $25,000 a year C) 25% of all American workers make less than $25,000 a year D) 51% of all American workers make less than $45,000 a year E) 51% of all American workers male less than $30,000 a year

51% of all American workers male less than $30,000 a year

What areas of social life are not affected by social class? A) Education B) Health (physical) C) Mental Health D) Politics E) Residential neighborhood F) All of the above are affected by social class

All of the above are affected by social class

John worked at a steel mill for 25 years. A recessionary economy and competition with foreign steelmakers forced the closing of the mill. At the age of 45, John is unable to find work in his town, lives in poverty, and must go on welfare. What is the most likely cause of John's poverty? A) It is due to his unwillingness to work. B) Changes in John's value system are the most likely cause. C) He is not intelligent enough to get a better job. D) Changes in the social structure are the most likely cause.

Changes in the social structure are the most likely cause.

________ are the most likely segment of the population in the United States to experience poverty today. A) Young, single males B) Children C) The elderly D) Middle-aged adults

Children

Defining social class in America is an objective science because there are clear-cut, agreed-upon definitions of each class. A) True B) False

False

In America, income is more unequally distributed than wealth.(T/F)

False

Poverty is relatively equally distributed in America by state and between rural and urban settings. A) True B) False

False

Wealth and income are interchangeable terms, each meaning the same in reference to social class. A) True B) False

False

There were much-publicized myths of the late 1800s that centered around the rags-to-riches exploits of fictional boy heroes. These myths were perpetuated by their author, ________. A) Horatio Alger B) Mark Twain C) George Orwell D) Samuel Clemens

Horatio Alger

What does status inconsistency refer to in relation to social stratification? A) Individuals are ranked high on one dimension of social class and low on other dimensions. B) Individuals fail to recognize the contradictions of class inequality and democratic values. C) Individuals exhibit insecurity and inferiority when they are ranked low in prestige. D) Ranking in power, wealth, and prestige must be consistent for an individual to avoid negative consequences.

Individuals are ranked high on one dimension of social class and low on other dimensions.

To determine the poverty line, the U.S. government calculates a low-cost food budget for a family of a specific size, then subjects that number to which modification? A) It multiplies the food budget by three. B) It divides the food budget by three. C) It multiples the food budget by five. D) It divides the food budget by five.

It multiplies the food budget by three.

Which of the following statements is most accurate with respect to determining social prestige in modern society? A) Family lineage is the primary determinant of social prestige. B) Social prestige is based primarily on the wealth one accumulates. C) Together wealth and power are the determining factors of social prestige. D) One's occupational title is the greatest influence in determining social prestige.

One's occupational title is the greatest influence in determining social prestige.

What is the relationship between social class and the likelihood of embracing deferred gratification? A) The working class and working poor are the most likely to embrace deferred gratification. B) There is no consistent relationship between social class and deferred gratification. C) The lower one's social class, the more likely they will embrace deferred gratification. D) The higher one's social class, the more likely they will embrace deferred gratification.

The higher one's social class, the more likely they will embrace deferred gratification.

In 1996, the U.S. welfare system was restructured. Supporters of this reform maintain that the new system rescues people from poverty and reduces welfare costs. What is the primary evidence they point out to support this? A) The number of people on welfare has significantly decreased. B) Fewer teenagers are having babies. C) The unemployment rate is now lower. D) Fewer people qualify as being in poverty.

The number of people on welfare has significantly decreased

Because of contradicting class locations, Erik Wright modified Marx's simpler two-class model. A) True B) False

True

Most poor americans are relatively poor instead of absolutely poor. (T/F)

True

Of the six social classes in America, the lower middle class has the highest percentage of members.(T/F)

True

Which industrialized nation has the highest rate of child poverty? A) United States B) France C) Italy D) Australia

United States

Theorists who suggest that the purpose of the welfare system is to maintain a "reserve labor force" is most aligned with the ________ perspective. A) conflict B) functionalist C) symbolic interactionist D) structural

conflict

Erik Wright revised Marx's concept of social classes by regarding some people as simultaneously occupying more than one class. He termed their positions in the class structure ________. A) contradictory class locations B) class ambiguity C) class inconsistency D) status inconsistency

contradictory class locations

What are the four variables Gilbert and Kahl used to develop a six-class model to reflect the class structure of the United States and other capitalist countries? A) race, ethnicity, occupation, gender B) family heritage, occupation, wealth, gender C) geographic residence, occupation, wealth, race D) education, power, property, prestige

education, power, property, prestige

The most important issue in recent years has been the squizzed out middle class and the attainment of the American dream. In his blog called "is the American Dream Dying?" Fred Block reveals that the reason for the idea that American dream is out of reach of most American is the sky rocketting costs of 4 fundamental necessities, which of the following are these necessities? A) housing, child care, education and health care B) education, car ownership, health care and elderly care C) education, communication technology, travel and child care D) food items, gasoline, car ownership and rental property

housing, child care, education and health care

What is the upward or downward movement in social class by family members from one generation to the next? A) exchange mobility B) intergenerational mobility C) intragenerational mobility D) structural mobility

intergenerational mobility

Tammy Story's clip illustrates the example of the ____________class based on Loyd Warner's classification A) Upper-middle B) Underclass C) middle-middle D) lower-lower E) lower-middle

lower-lower

Of the following classes, in which one are the members most adversely affected by the export of American manufacturing jobs to Mexico and the Pacific Rim nations? A) lower-middle class B) capitalist class C) upper-middle class D) underclass

lower-middle class

The difference between Lloyd Warner's American class system discussed in class and Gilberg and Kahl model in the text is that classification of the Lloyd Warner defines the upper class as A) made up with exclusively professionals B) made up exclusively with capitalists C) made up of the power elite D) made up of the upper-upper class (old money) and the lower-upper class (new money)

made up of the upper-upper class (old money) and the lower-upper class (new money)

What is the background profile of most United States presidents? A) upper-class white men from traditional working families B) politicians from new money families with upper-class backgrounds C) millionaire white men from families with old money D) individuals from a diverse pool of Americans who love their country

millionaire white men from families with old money

Ruth owns the Head 2 Toe Boutique where she employs 15 workers. According to Erik Wright's model of social class and even Marx, Ruth would be classified as a(n) ________ A) capitalist B) entrepreneur C) petty bourgeoisie D) manager

petty bourgeoisie

The occupation with the highest prestige in the United States is a ________. A) lawyer B) professional athlete C) physician D) college professor

physician

The ranking of high on all the three dimensions or low on all three dimensions of social class is called___________________ A) status consistency B) master status C) status D) status inconsistency E) High plain drifter

status consistency

Changes in society that cause large numbers of people to move up or down the class ladder, which causes one class to increase while others decrease, is called ________ mobility. A) structural B) intragenerational C) exchange D) automatic

structural

Which of the following family names is a member of the "nouveau riche"? A) the Carnegie family, who built America's steel empire B) the DuPont family, who arrived in America in the 18th century C) the Rockefeller family, who became the oil barons of the 19th century D) the Gates family, who founded Microsoft

the Gates family, who founded Microsoft

What region of the United States has the highest clustering of people in poverty? A) the West B) the North C) the Midwest D) the South

the South

The trend in the United States in which most poor families are headed by women is called ________. A) the culture of poverty B) the feminization of poverty C) the economic genderization D) the male supremacy

the feminization of poverty

When used by sociologists, the term wealth refers to ________. A) the property that a person owns B) the income after state and federal taxes have been withheld C) the income made from a person's occupation D) the property owned and the income acquired minus debts made by the person

the property owned and the income acquired minus debts made by the person

Based on the Marxist orientation of conflict sociologists, how many distinct social classes exist? A) two B) none, as society is classless C) six D) four

two

Numerically, what is the race of the majority of the poor in the United States? A) white B) African American C) Native American D) Latino

white