sociology test 2
21
48. Recent data gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that approximately __________ percent of the people in this country speak a language other than English at home. a. 5 b. 9 c. 21 d. 33
subculture
A __________ is a category of people who share distinguishing attributes, beliefs, values, and/or norms that set them apart in some significant manner from the dominant culture. a. contraculture b. counterculture c. subculture d. primary culture
counterculture
A __________ is a group that strongly rejects dominant societal values and norms and seeks alternative lifestyles. a. subculture b. counterculture c. contraculture d. secondary culture
society
A __________ is a large social grouping that occupies the same geographical territory and is subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. a. country b. society c. nation d. culture
formal norms
A college has a student handbook that has rules and regulations. There are written consequences for not following these rules. This would be an example of: a. folkways. b. conventions. c. taboos. d. formal norms.
False
A counterculture is a category of people who share distinguishing attributes, beliefs, values, and/or norms that set them apart in some significant manner from the dominant culture.
true
A fashion is a currently valued style of behavior, thinking, or appearance that is longer lasting and more widespread than a fad.
true
A language-based predisposition to think about women in sexual terms reinforces the notion that women are sexual objects.
true
A reflex is an unlearned, biologically determined behavior pattern common to all members of a species that predictably occurs whenever certain environmental conditions exist.
symbol
A(n) _____ is a part of our culture that can transmit emotion. For example, it can stand for love (a heart on a valentine), peace (a dove), or hate (a Nazi swastika). a. language b. symbol c. technology d. innovation
culture
According to sociologist Ann Swidler, _____ is/are a "tool kit of symbols, stories, rituals, and world views that people may use in varying configurations to solve different kinds of problems." a. instincts b. society c. reflexes d. culture
morality and humanitarianism
According to sociologist Robin Williams, __________ is an American core value that emphasizes helpfulness, personal kindness, aid in mass disasters, and organized philanthropy. a. equality b. achievement and success c. progress and material comfort d. morality and humanitarianism
Ethnocentrism and group superiority
According to sociologist Robin Williams, a belief in the idea that "the American way of life" is best illustrates the core value of _____. a. equality b. freedom and liberty c. progress and material comfort d. ethnocentrism and group superiority
individualism
According to sociologist Robin Williams, we cherish the core value of _____, which is conveyed by the idea that Americans believe that people are responsible for their own success or failure. a. individualism b. progress and material comfort c. efficiency and practicality d. morality and humanitarianism
false
According to sociologist William Ogburn, cultural expulsion occurs when material cultural changes faster than nonmaterial culture, thus creating a gap between the two cultural components.
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
According to the ____________, language shapes the view of reality of its speakers. a. Helmicki-Kendall theorem b. Thompson-Murdock principle c. Sapir-Whorf hypothesis d. Smith-Wesson law
chinatowns
According to the text, _____, located in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, are one of the more visible ethnic subcultures in the United States. a. Chinatowns b. Irish enclaves c. Italian enclaves d. Spanish barrios
positive sanction
After having successfully negotiated an important business contract with a major client, Joyce's boss congratulated her and promised her a significant pay raise. In this situation, Joyce has received what sociologists call a: a. positive folkway. b. positive sanction. c. positive mores. d. positive value.
cultural lag
All parts of culture do not change at the same pace. Sociologist William Ogburn referred to this disparity as __________, a gap between the technical development of a society and its moral and legal institutions. a. cultural leveling b. cultural division c. cultural lag d. cultural diffusion
Southwest
America is often referred to as a nation of immigrants, but immigrant groups are not evenly distributed. For example, African Americans are heavily concentrated in the _____. a. Northeast b. Northwest c. Southwest d. Southeast
cultural universals
Anthropologist George Murdock compiled a list of over seventy categories that included appearance (such as bodily adornment and hairstyles), activities (such as sports, dancing, games, joking, and visiting), social institutions (such as family, law, and religion), and customary practices (such as cooking, folklore, gift giving, and hospitality). These are all examples of: a. symbols b. beliefs c. cultural universals d. norms
true
As illustrated in the opening story of Chapter 3, it is possible for food to serve as a symbolic representation of culture.
folkway
As you are rushing from one class to the next, you absentmindedly forget to hold the door open for the person coming through behind you. The consequence is that the person has the door slammed in his/her face. Which of the following cultural components has been violated as a result of your behavior? a. Taboo b. Folkway c. Sanction d. Mores
language
Children learn about their cultural heritage and develop a sense of personal identity in relationship to their group through __________. a. nonverbal communication b. osmosis c. language d. innovation
diversity
Cultural _____ refers to the wide range of cultural differences found between and within nations. It may be the result of natural circumstances (such as climate and geography) or social circumstances (such as level of technology and composition of the population). a. relativism b. diversity c. diffusion d. transformation
true
Cultural imperialism is the extensive infusion of one nation's culture into other nations. For example, some view the widespread infusion of the English language into countries that speak other languages as a form of cultural imperialism.
interdependent
Culture is essential for our individual survival and our communication with other people. It is also fundamental for the survival of societies because it makes the actions of individuals intelligible to the group. This makes the culture and society: a. in conflict with one another. b. independent. c. contrasting. d. interdependent.
true
Culture shock is the disorientation that people feel when they encounter cultures radically different from their own and believe they cannot depend on their own taken-for-granted assumptions about life.
informal sanction
During a sermon in church, a parishioner begins to talk to the person sitting next to her in an audible tone of voice. A man in another pew turns around, frowns at her, and says, "Shhhhhhhh." This illustrates a(n): a. informal sanction. b. formal sanction. c. taboo. d. core value.
real
Eric is attending classes at the local college. He believes in the idea of success, but he does not spend as much time as he could studying to achieve a higher grade point average. His behavior is an example of __________ culture. a. ideal b. real c. material d. universal
false
Even though the specifics of individual cultures vary widely, all cultures have four common material cultural components: symbols, language, values, and norms.
countercultures
Examples of __________ include the beatniks of the 1950s, the flower children of the 1960s, the drug enthusiasts of the 1970s, and members of nonmainstream religious sects or cults. a. contracultures b. secondary cultures c. countercultures d. subcultures
true
French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu's cultural capital theory views high culture as a device used by the dominant class to exclude the subordinate classes.
false
Functionalist theorist Karl Marx stated that ideas are cultural creations of a society's most powerful members. Thus, it is possible for political, economic, and social leaders to use cultural imperialism to maintain their positions of dominance in a society.
nurture
Human behavior is often explained from a nature versus nurture argument. ___________ refers to influences on individuals from the social environment. a. Nature b. Nurture c. Reflex d. Instinct
symbols
In Argentina, rotating one's index finger around the front of the ear means "you have a telephone call", but in the United States it usually means that you are suggesting that a person is "crazy". Both of these gestures exemplify:
diffusion
In a six square-block tract of downtown Boston, it is possible to purchase a bagel with cream cheese, dine on raw fish in a sushi bar, or grab a slice of pizza from a street vendor. This variety of food choices illustrates the process of cultural: a. initiative. b. relativism. c. transformation. d. diffusion.
folkways
Norms are also classified according to their relative social importance. _____ are informal norms or everyday customs that may be violated without serious consequences within a particular culture. a. Mores b. Folkways c. Sanctions d. Taboos
true
Norms are established rules of behavior or standards of conduct.
true
Norms do not dictate which behaviors are appropriate and which ones are not, but they provide us with the standards by which we evaluate people, objects, and events.
formal
Not all norms are of equal importance; _____ norms are written down and involve specific punishments for violators. Laws are the most common type; they have been codified and may be enforced by sanctions. a. informal b. real c. formal d. ideal
more
Pushing someone's book bags off their desk and then pushing them out of their seat because you want their desk in a college classroom would be violating a _____. a. sanction b. more c. folkway d. taboo
false
Sanctions are informal norms or everyday customs that may be violated without serious consequences within a particular culture.
reflex
Sneezing after breathing pepper through the nose is an example of a(n) __________, which is an unlearned, biologically determined, and involuntary response to some physical stimuli. a. instinct b. reflex c. drive d. impulse
false
Sociologists agree that cultural universals are always functional.
technology
Sociologists define __________ as the knowledge, techniques, and tools that make it possible for people to transform resources into usable forms, and the knowledge and skills required to use them after they are developed. a. industrialization b. technology c. material culture d. cybernetics
false
Sociologists stress that a gap always exists between ideal culture and real culture in a society. Ideal culture refers to the values and standards of behavior that people actually follow; whereas real culture refers to the values and standards of behavior that people in a society profess to hold.
heterogenous
Some nations, such as the United States, are referred to as _____ societies, meaning that they include people who are dissimilar in regard to social characteristics such as religion, income, or race/ethnicity. a. subculture b. homogeneous c. counterculture d. heterogeneous
ethnic subculture
Some people have unique shared behaviors linked to a common racial, language, or nationality background in which members will identify themselves. This is an example of a(n): a. counterculture. b. main culture. c. ethnic subculture. d. dominant group.
instincts
Spiders do not learn to build webs. They build webs because of __________ that are triggered by basic biological needs such as protection and reproduction. a. instincts b. impulses c. reflexes d. drives
true
Taboos are mores so strong that their violation is considered to be extremely offensive and even unmentionable.
to refer to human beings in general
The English language ignores women by using the masculine form: a. to refer to all professions. b. to refer to automobiles and ships. c. in referencing low paying jobs categories. d. to refer to human beings in general.
c. share values and norms that differ significantly from those of people who primarily identify with the dominant culture.
The Old Order Amish are considered a subculture because its members: a. practice their religious beliefs. b. remain in a relatively closed social network. c. share values and norms that differ significantly from those of people who primarily identify with the dominant culture. d. have a strong value system.
false
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis has suggested that language expresses our thoughts and perceptions but has little influence on our perception of reality.
amish
The _____ are aware that they share distinctive values and look different from other people; these differences provide them with a collective identity and make them feel close to one another. a. English b. Amish c. Mormons d. Italians
diffusion
The growing popularity of fast food restaurants throughout many parts of the world is an example of cultural: a. discovery. b. lag. c. diffusion. d. diversity.
core values
The joy of work, the primacy of the home, faithfulness, thriftiness, tradition, and humility are examples of ___________ that are part of the Old Order of Amish culture. a. folkways b. American values c. core values d. norms
taboos
The strongest mores are referred to as _____. They are so strong that their violation is considered to be extremely offensive and even unmentionable. a. sanctions b. folkways c. laws d. taboos
conflict
The view that language is a source of power and social control and that it perpetuates inequalities between people and between groups because words are used to "keep people in their place" is representative of what theoretical perspective? a. Symbolic interactionist b. Functionalist c. Postmodern d. Conflict
scientific research
Today, discovery most often results from _____. For example, a future discovery of a cure for cancer or the common cold could result in longer and more productive lives for many people. a. scientific research b. unearthing natural elements c. uncovering existing technologies d. diffusion
norms
Values provide ideals of beliefs about behavior but do not state explicitly how we should behave. _____ are established rules of behavior or standards of conduct. a. Mores b. Folkways c. Sanctions d. Norms
nonverbal
Verbal (spoken) language and __________ help us describe reality by sharing our experiences, feelings, and knowledge with others. a. nonverbal (written or gestured) language b. nonmaterial culture c. technology d. values
true
Verbal (spoken) language and nonverbal (written or gestured) language help us describe reality. One of our most important human attributes is the ability to use language to share our experiences, feelings, and knowledge with others.
true
When observing people from other cultures, many of us use our own culture as the yardstick by which we judge their behavior. Sociologists refer to this approach as ethnocentrism and it is based on the assumption that one's own way of life is superior to all others.
The "voice" of verbs may overemphasize the importance of the activities and achievementsof people of color.
Which of the following is NOT an example of a way in which language may create and reinforce negative perceptions about race and ethnicity? a. Words may have more than one meaning and create and reinforce negative images. b. Overtly derogatory terms are "popularized" in movies, music, and other forms of popularculture. c. The "voice" of verbs may overemphasize the importance of the activities and achievementsof people of color. d. Words are frequently used to create or reinforce perceptions about a group.
Cultural universals include appearance, activities, social institutions, and customary practices.
Which of the following statements regarding cultural universals is FALSE? a. Cultural universals include appearance, activities, social institutions, and customary practices. b. Some customs and practices are found in all cultures in different forms. c. The specific forms of cultural universals vary from one group to another and from one time to another within the same group. d. Sociologists are in agreement that cultural universals are the result of functional necessity.
mores
_____ are a particular culture's strongly held norms with moral and ethical connotations that may not be violated without serious consequences. a. Folkways b. Informal norms c. Negative sanctions d. Mores
values
_____ are collective ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular culture. a. Beliefs b. Norms c. Values d. Assumptions
laws
_____ are formal, standardized norms that have been enacted by legislatures and are enforced by formal sanctions. a. Folkways b. Mores c. Laws d. Legislative mandates
sanctions
_____ are rewards for appropriate behavior or penalties for inappropriate behavior. a. Folkways b. Mores c. Sanctions d. Taboos
nonmaterial culture
_____ consist(s) of the abstract or intangible human creations of society that influence people's behavior. a. Material culture b. Technology c. Nonmaterial culture d. Cultural universals
real
_____ culture refers to the values and standards of behavior that people actually follow. a. Ideal b. Real c. Material d. Universal
ideal culture
_____ culture refers to the values and standards of behavior that people in society profess to hold. a. Ideal culture b. Real culture c. Material culture d. Universal culture
civil
_____ law deals with disputes among persons or groups. Persons who lose these types of law suits may encounter negative sanctions, such as having to pay compensation to the other party or being ordered to stop certain conduct. a. Civil b. Formal c. Criminal d. Informal
criminal
_____ law deals with public safety and well-being. When these types of law are violated, fines and prison sentences are the most likely negative sanctions, although in some states the death penalty is handed down for certain major offenses. a. Deviant b. Civil c. Formal d. Criminal
proscriptive
_____ norms state what behavior is inappropriate or unacceptable. Laws that prohibit us from driving over the speed limit and "good manners" that preclude you from reading a newspaper during class are examples. a. Proscriptive b. Nonstandard c. Prescriptive
drives
__________ are unlearned, biologically determined impulses common to all members of a species that satisfy needs such as sleep, food, water, and sexual gratification. a. Instincts b. Drives c. Reflexes d. Reactions
cultural universals
__________ consist(s) of customs and practices that occur across all societies. a. Ideologies b. Beliefs c. Cultural universals d. Material culture
material culture
__________ consist(s) of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use, and share. a. Technology b. Nonmaterial culture c. Cultural universals d. Material culture
culture
__________ is the knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society. a. Social stratification b. Society c. Culture d. Social organization
discovery
__________ is the process of learning about something previously unknown or unrecognized. Historically, it involved unearthing natural elements or existing realties, such as fire or the true shape of the earth. a. Invention b. Diffusion c. Discovery d. Cultural advancement
invention
__________ is the process of reshaping existing cultural items into a new form. Guns, video games, and airplanes are examples that positively or negatively affect our lives today. a. Discovery b. Invention c. Diffusion d. Diversity
diffusion
__________ is the transmission of cultural items or social practices from one group or society to another through such means as exploration, military endeavors, the media, tourism, and immigration. a. Discovery b. Diffusion c. Functional reorganization d. Rediscovery
language
__________ is/are a set of symbols that expresses ideas and enables people to think and communicate with one another. a. Beliefs b. Values c. Language d. Norms
prescriptive
__________ norms state what behavior is appropriate or acceptable. For example, persons making a certain amount of money are expected to file a tax return and pay any taxes they owe. a. Standard b. Prescriptive c. Regular d. Proscriptive
true
. Language is a source of power and social control; language perpetuates inequalities between people and between groups because words are used to "keep people in their place."
homogenous
. Some nations, such as Sweden, are referred to as _____ societies, meaning that they include people who share a common culture and who are typically from similar social, religious, political, and economic backgrounds. a. homogeneous b. subculture c. heterogeneous d. diffused
functionalist
. The belief that shared values are essential for societies to survive would be representative of what theoretical perspective? a. Conflict b. Functionalist c. Symbolic interactionist d. Postmodern
folkways
In the United States, _____ include using underarm deodorant, brushing our teeth, and wearing appropriate clothing for a specific occasion. a. formal norms b. folkways c. mores d. laws
value contradiction
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many people in the United States were more willing to make generous contributions to help the survivors of this natural disaster than they were to help the long-term homeless and disadvantaged throughout the United States. This is an example of: a. value contradiction. b. value practicality. c. moral conflict. d. ideal culture.
Subculture
In the month of December, many Jewish families celebrate "Chanukah" (the Festival of Light), during which special foods are served and families engage in ritual activity unique to their religious faith. In this context, members of the Jewish faith would represent a: a. rival culture. b. counterculture. c. contraculture. d. subculture.
true
In their examination of culture, postmodernist social theorists make us aware of the fact that no single perspective can grasp the complexity and diversity of the social world. They also make us aware that reality may not be what it seems.
false
Individuals that are dissimilar in regard to social characteristics such as religion, income, or race/ethnicity are considered to be living in a homogeneous society.
white ethnics
Irish Americans, Italian Americans, and Polish Americans are an example of which of the following categories? a. Racial b. Religious c. White ethnics d. Postmodern ethnics
more, taboo
Jeffery was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for this offense. He also practiced cannibalism on his victims. In this situation, the act of murder could be described as the violation of a _____, while cannibalism could be described as the violation of a _____. a. value; belief b. folkway; mores c. more; taboo d. more; folkway
false
Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, and political systems are examples of material culture.
nonmaterial culture
Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, and political systems are examples of: a. nonmaterial culture. b. symbolic culture. c. material culture. d. cultural universals.
negative sanction
Luke has just received a stern lecture from his mother about his lack of motivation. This is an example of a: a. value reinforcement. b. positive sanction. c. norm violation. d. negative sanction.
dichos
Many Latinos/as in New Mexico and South Texas employ __________ (proverbs or sayings that are unique to the Spanish language) as a means of expressing themselves and as a reflection of their cultural heritage. a. dichos b. machos c. notas d. memos
true
Material culture consists of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use, and share. Through technology, these raw materials are transformed into usable items (ranging from books and computers to guns and tanks).
