Chapter 6 Practice Questions

Based on the line graph, what percentage of people surveyed attended church weekly in 1990 ? A. 35% B. 30% C. 25% D. 15%

A. 35%

Which of the following best describes an exit poll? A. A poll that asks voters at randomly selected voting places whom they voted for so that election results can be predicted more quickly B. A poll conducted by having a computer randomly select phone numbers from around the country C. An opinion poll that is used to intentionally sway people's opinions by using false or misleading information in the conversation D. A poll that randomly samples a population to capture public opinion at a given time

A. A poll that asks voters at randomly selected voting places whom they voted for so that election results can be predicted more quickly

Which of the following scenarios best reflects the process of political socialization? A. An individual takes a civics course in school and develops opinions about politics. B. Members of Congress increasingly vote the same way as other members of their party. C. A group is able to attract new members by offering access to a broad network of people. D. As media choices increase, individuals expand their media consumption to new sources.

A. An individual takes a civics course in school and develops opinions about politics.

Which of the following groups would be most likely to support a constitutional amendment banning all abortions? A. Conservatives B. Libertarians C. Independents D. Liberals E. Moderates

A. Conservatives

What kind of regional population shift is America experiencing? A. From Northeast to Southwest B. From Northwest to Southeast C. From Southwest to Northeast D. From Midwest to Northeast

A. From Northeast to Southwest

Question: We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. I'm going to show you a seven-point scale on which the political views that people might hold are arranged from extremely liberal — point 1 — to extremely conservative — point 7. Where would you place yourself on this scale? (Point 4 not shown on scale.) MY POLITICAL VALUES ARE... The graph above supports which of the following statements? A. People with higher incomes are more likely to think of themselves as conservative than are those with lower incomes. B. Americans with incomes under $10,000 are twice as likely to think of themselves as liberal than as conservative. C. A majority of people whose incomes fall between $10,000 and $50,000 think of themselves as conservative. D. No income group contains more people who think of themselves as liberal than people who think of themselves as conservative. E. People with higher incomes are less likely to think of themselves as either liberal or conservative than are those with lower incomes.

A. People with higher incomes are more likely to think of themselves as conservative than are those with lower incomes.

Which of the following statements about voting patterns is best supported by the table? A. Women were more likely than men to vote Democratic. B. People who were young, White, and from the South were most likely to be Perot supporters. C. Voters with low educational attainment were more likely to vote Republican than Democratic. D. Voters in the South were more likely to vote Democratic than those in other regions. E. Nonwhite voters were less likely to support Republican presidential candidates in 1992 than they were in 1980.

A. Women were more likely than men to vote Democratic

a poll indicates that 60% of all people in the United States support a flat tax system. Which of the following supports the credibility of the poll result? A. the poll reported a sampling error B. the poll was conducted online and open to anyone who wished to participate C. the poll was administered to several thousand people who were stopped while shopping in the malls across the country D. before the question was asked, respondents were told that a flat tax system is fairer than a progressive tax and will lead to economic growth

A. the poll reported a sampling error

what is the most common form of political participation? A. voting B. writing to elected officials C. working on campaigns D. protesting

A. voting

Which of the following sets of policies appears to be most influenced by a libertarian ideology? A. Increase income taxes on the wealthy to raise revenue for social security benefits. B. Legalize the commercial sale of marijuana and reduce government spending on prisons. C. Eliminate the estate tax and promote government-funded prekindergarten education. D. Expand the welfare state and reduce spending on national defense.

B. Legalize the commercial sale of marijuana and reduce government spending on prisons.

Which of the following public policies would Democrats be most likely to support? A. Authorizing additional funding for the military B. Securing a universal health care system C. Cutting the budget for foreign aid to other countries D. Withdrawing from international climate change agreements

B. Securing a universal health care system

Which of the following is most important for getting an accurate measure of public opinion in a survey? A. Surveying only cell phone users B. Selecting a random sample C. Asking leading questions D. Contacting only registered voters E. Conducting the survey online

B. Selecting a random sample

Using both of the maps, which of the following best explains the role that ideology has played in the shaping of corporate tax rates? A. The maps indicate that there is no correlation between corporate tax rates and a state's ideology. B. The maps indicate that states that have high corporate tax rates are more likely to enact liberal policies. C. The maps indicate that states with high corporate tax rates are more likely to hold libertarian positions. D. The maps indicate that states with high corporate tax rates do not have an ideological preference.

B. The maps indicate that states that have high corporate tax rates are more likely to enact liberal policies.

When a child's parents both identify strongly with the same political party, the child will most likely A. identify with the opposing party B. identify with the parents' party C. have a low sense of political efficacy D. become an independent rather than a party identifier E. become alienated from the political system

B. identify with the parents' party

The data in the table provide clear evidence that A. Republicans were increasingly likely to defect from their party's candidate B. the vote in the Midwest predicted the outcome rather consistently C. the East has become a Republican stronghold D. voters under the age of 30 were more likely than older voters to support the Democratic candidate E. nonwhite voters showed no preference for one party over another

B. the vote in the Midwest predicted the outcome rather consistently

The primary responsibility for determining monetary policy in the United States rests with the A. International Monetary Fund B. World Bank C. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System D. Treasury Department E. Comptroller of the Currency

C. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Which of the following is NOT a core value of United States political culture? A. Legal equality B. Political equality C. Economic equality D. Freedom of religion E. Freedom of speech

C. Economic equality

Policy that describes the impact of the federal budget (including taxes, spending, and borrowing) on the economy is referred to as which of the following? A. Monetary policy B. Trade policy C. Fiscal policy D. Antitrust policy E. Capitalist policy

C. Fiscal policy

Source: The National Election Studies, Center for Political Studies, University of Michigan. The table above supports which of the following conclusions? i. A plurality of the people has consistently supported the Democrats. ii. Support for the two major parties increased slightly between 1952 and 1994. iii. The largest percentage increase in political identification between 1952 and 1994 occurred among independents A. I only B. II only C. III only D. I and II only E. I, II, and III

C. III only

A person loses his job and refuses to accept any government assistance to get back on his feet, instead relying on savings and seeking a new job immediately. Which of the following core values would this person most relate to? A. Rule of law B. Free enterprise C. Individualism D. Equality of opportunity

C. Individualism

Which of the following public policies would Republicans be most likely to support? A. Implementing new standards to reduce pollution B. Instituting paid maternity and paternity leave C. Opening public lands for ranching and oil exploration D. Raising the national minimum wage to $15 an hour

C. Opening public lands for ranching and oil exploration

Which of the following political parties would be most likely to oppose reduced sentencing for nonviolent felony offenders? A. The Green Party B. The Libertarian Party C. The Republican Party D. The Democratic Party

C. The Republican Party

Using both of the maps, which of the following best explains how states with the lowest corporate tax rates voted in the 2016 election? A. The maps show that states with the lowest corporate tax rates were more likely to vote for the Democrat, Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 election. B. The maps show that states with the lowest corporate tax rate had no distinct preference for either the Democrat, Hillary Clinton, or the Republican, Donald Trump. C. The maps show that states with the lowest corporate tax rate were more likely to vote for the Republican, Donald Trump, in the 2016 election. D. The maps show that states with low corporate tax rates were just as likely to vote for the Democrat, Hillary Clinton, as they were for the Republican, Donald Trump, in the 2016 election.

C. The maps show that states with the lowest corporate tax rate were more likely to vote for the Republican, Donald Trump, in the 2016 election.

Agree-Disagree v. Forced Choice Questions Agree-Disagree The best way to ensure peace is through military strength. (55% agree, 42% disagree) Forced Choice The best way to ensure peace is through military strength (33%) OR Diplomacy is the best way to ensure peace (55%) Source: Pew Research Center, 1999. Which of the following is the best conclusion a polling group might draw from the results of the two polls? A. Including loaded phrases such as "military strength" in questions skews the results of the poll. B. Asking the same question twice biases respondents, encouraging them to change their position. C. Using an agree-or-disagree format encourages respondents to agree with the position. D. A majority of Americans support using military force to ensure peace.

C. Using an agree-or-disagree format encourages respondents to agree with the position.

Refer to the passage for the following question. In many places, classrooms are overcrowded and curricula are outdated. Most of our qualified teachers are underpaid, and many of our paid teachers are unqualified. So we must give every child a place to sit and a teacher to learn from. Poverty must not be a bar to learning, and learning must offer an escape from poverty. But more classrooms and more teachers are not enough. We must seek an educational system which grows in excellence as it grows in size. This means better training for our teachers. It means preparing youth to enjoy their hours of leisure as well as their hours of labor. It means exploring new techniques of teaching, to find new ways to stimulate the love of learning and the capacity for creation.... . . . While our Government has many programs directed at those issues, I do not pretend that we have the full answer to those problems. But I do promise this: We are going to assemble the best thought and the broadest knowledge from all over the world to find those answers for America. I intend to establish working groups to prepare a series of White House conferences and meetings... on the quality of education, and on other emerging challenges. And from these meetings and from this inspiration and from these studies we will begin to set our course toward the Great Society. The solution to these problems does not rest on a massive program in Washington, nor can it rely solely on the strained resources of local authority. They require us to create new concepts of cooperation, a creative federalism, between the National Capital and the leaders of local communities. - President Lyndon B. Johnson, May 22, 1964 A liberal response to the "strained resources" of local government most likely would include A. a reduction of federal income taxes so that state and local governments can use those resources B. less federal regulation and more authority for local school boards to create curricula and standards C. an increase in federal spending on public education and more programs aimed at helping lower-income communities D. encouraging state and local governments to offer vouchers so that students can attend private or charter schools

C. an increase in federal spending on public education and more programs aimed at helping lower-income communities

Candidates for political office use public opinion polls for all of the following purposes EXCEPT to A. assess recognition of the candidate's name B. measure voters' support for the candidate's issues C. bring the opposition's opinions into alignment with those of the candidate D. fine-tune policy stands E. identify key issues among the voters

C. bring the opposition's opinions into alignment with those of the candidate

An important change in political culture since 1950 is that United States citizens have become A. more likely to believe that their actions can influence government policy B. more trusting of nongovernmental institutions and leaders C. less trusting of governmental institutions and leaders D. less supportive of school integration E. less likely to think of themselves as ideologically moderate

C. less trusting of governmental institutions and leaders

Of the following, the most important role in the political socialization of children is played by A. their peer groups B. their places of worship C. the family D. the media E. the school

C. the family

what is the problem with exit polls? A. they are usually inaccurate B. they don't poll every voter C. they influence election results D. none of the above

C. they influence election results

Which of the following public policies is best supported by the notion of free enterprise? A. The government subsidizing the cost of milk B. Congress passing legislation bailing out the automobile industry C. Taxpayers funding a national high-speed railway service D. After a review, the Federal Trade Commission approving a corporate merger of cable providers

D. After a review, the Federal Trade Commission approving a corporate merger of cable providers

Which of the following statements is best supported by the data in the table above? A. Latinos are fairly homogeneous in their party identification. B. Latinos have become substantially more supportive of the Democratic Party than they were in the 1950s. C. The majority of Latinos probably voted for Bill Clinton in 1992. D. Latinos of Cuban descent are more supportive of the Republican Party than are Latinos of Mexican or Puerto Rican descent. E. Latinos of Mexican descent are less likely to consider themselves independent than are Latinos of Cuban or Puerto Rican descent.

D. Latinos of Cuban descent are more supportive of the Republican Party than are Latinos of Mexican or Puerto Rican descent.

The table above supports which of the following statements about partisanship and the 1984 presidential election? A. Democrats were more likely to vote their party identification than were Republicans. B. The number of strong Democrats was less than the number of strong Republicans. C. Independent Democrats and independent Republicans were the two groups most likely to vote for candidates of the other party. D. Partisanship was a good predictor of the way a person voted. E. Independents were less likely to vote than were party identifiers.

D. Partisanship was a good predictor of the way a person voted.

Agree-Disagree v. Forced Choice Questions Agree-Disagree The best way to ensure peace is through military strength. (55% agree, 42% disagree) Forced Choice The best way to ensure peace is through military strength (33%) OR Diplomacy is the best way to ensure peace (55%) Source: Pew Research Center, 1999. Which of the following most likely explains the difference in result of the two polls? A. Margin of error B. Wording choice C. Question order D. Question format

D. Question format

Which of the following policies would an individual who identifies as a Democrat most likely support? A. Reducing regulations on Wall Street to stimulate economic growth B. Decreasing the role of the federal government to ensure access to health care C. Increasing federal enforcement of immigration laws D. Strengthening anti-discrimination policies for married gay couples

D. Strengthening anti-discrimination policies for married gay couples

Which of the following is the best example of the core value of limited government? A. Interest groups lobbying the government to influence legislation on a particular issue B. The media covering a confirmation hearing for a potential Supreme Court justice C. Citizens voting to elect a new member of the United States Congress D. The United States Constitution delegating specific powers to Congress

D. The United States Constitution delegating specific powers to Congress

In a public opinion poll, a polling company used an online survey tool to randomly contact respondents who did not have telephone lines in addition to contacting people over the phone. Which of the following best explains this decision? A. The company saved money because it did not need to hire as many telephone interviewers to conduct the poll. B. The company was establishing a benchmark poll at the beginning of a campaign. C. The company was interested in asking different questions to different individuals. D. The company wanted to ensure that the sample of the population was truly random.

D. The company wanted to ensure that the sample of the population was truly random.

Which of the following explains why any attempt to reduce Social Security benefits is difficult? A. The Supreme Court has ruled that benefits are constitutionally required. B. Interest groups concerned with Social Security are ineffective. C. The global economy makes government insurance programs necessary. D. There are many voters who support Social Security. E. Government cannot predict the number of new retirees each year.

D. There are many voters who support Social Security.

"Voting is partly a matter of habit: the more frequently a person has voted in the past, the more likely she or he is to vote in the current election." All of the following support the observation above EXCEPT: A. Immediately after the Twenty-Sixth Amendment in 1971 gave 18-21 year olds the vote, the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted declined. B. Immediately after the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 gave women the vote, the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted declined. C. Immediately after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the participation rate of Black voters in the South was lower than that of White voters in the South. D. Unmarried persons over the age of 65 are less likely to vote than are married persons in that age group E. Newly naturalized citizens may need special inducements to vote.

D. Unmarried persons over the age of 65 are less likely to vote than are married persons in that age group

americans identify most with which political ideology? A. moderate B. liberal C. democrat D. conservative

D. conservative

All of the following are traditional political values held by most Americans EXCEPT A. individual freedom B. representative democracy C. equality of opportunity D. equality of outcome E. due process of law

D. equality of outcome

which of the following policies is most likely to cause tension between the competing values of individualism and equality of opportunity? A. expanding the national defense system B. reducing enviromental regulations C. decreasing funding for space exploration D. implementing affirmative action programs

D. implementing affirmative action programs

Political socialization is the process by which A. the use of private property is regulated by the government B. governments communicate with each other C. public attitudes toward government are measured and reported D. political values are passed to the next generation E. children are trained for successful occupations

D. political values are passed to the next generation

in a public opinion poll of a representative sample of a population, 1,200 people were asked to agree, disagree, or express neutrality toward the following statements. Statement A: the government should spend more money on welfare Result: 35% of the respondents agreed Statement B: the government should spend more money on helping the poor Result: 60% of respondents agreed which of the following most likely accounts for the different results? A. the questions were no open ended B. there were no welfare recipients on the sample C. the sample size was not large enough to be reliable D. the questions contained a difference in wording

D. the questions contained a difference in wording

Party identification in the United States is most successfully transmitted by which of the following? A. Workplace B. Church C. Educational system D. The media E. Family

E. Family

The differences shown in the table demonstrate which of the following? A. Political efficacy B. Women's greater political participation C. Men's greater political participation D. Age discrimination E. The gender gap

E. The gender gap

The chart above supports which of the following conclusions? A. A majority of the men polled identified with the Republican party. B. More men than women voted for Ronald Reagan in 1984. C. The younger a man was, the more likely he was to identify himself as a Democrat. D. The Geraldine Ferraro vice-presidential candidacy caused many formerly Republican women to identify with the Democrats. E. The gender gap among those who identified with the Republican party was narrowest for those between 25 and 34 years of age.

E. The gender gap among those who identified with the Republican party was narrowest for those between 25 and 34 years of age.

which of the following individuals would be most likely to vote in a Republican primary? A. a 25- year old white male with some high school educastion who is employed as a laborer in florida B. A 55- year olf African American saleswomen from Georgia who has a masters' degree C. A 35- year old female secretary from New York with an associate's degress who is a devolut Catholic E. a 45- year old white businessman from South Carolina who attends church weekly

E. a 45- year old white businessman from South Carolina who attends church weekly