Chapter 6 Social Problems
True/False Based on figures from 2019, nearly one-third of U.S. children will live in poverty at some point.
True
True/False Most recipients of TANF cash and food benefits are children.
True
True/False Of the industrialized nations, the United States has the highest poverty rate and the highest degree of income inequality.
True
Poorer countries are more likely than wealthier countries to a) promote equality of opportunity. b) ensure equal access to education. c) have government programs to help people experiencing homelessness. d) experience civil war.
d) experience civil war
The 1996 federal welfare reform legislation set a lifetime limit of _____ for families receiving federal government assistance. a) ten years b) two years c) one year d) five years
d) five years
A benefit of the "living wage law" is an a) increase in worker morale and productivity. b) increase in worker training costs. c) increase in worker turnover. d) increase in worker absenteeism.
a) increase in worker morale and productivity
Divorce is a) more common among low-income families. b) more common among high-income families. c) about the same in high-income and low-income families. d) unaffected by economic conditions.
a) more common among low-income families
The terms "Temporary" and "Supplemental" in the titles of welfare programs counter the myth that a) welfare makes people dependent on the government and prevents them from becoming contributing citizens. b) immigrants place a huge burden on our welfare system. c) fraud and abuse are rampant in the welfare system. d) welfare benefits are granted to many people who are not really poor or eligible to receive them.
a) welfare makes people dependent on the government and prevents them from becoming contributing citizens
A criticism of the poverty line is that it underestimates hardship that is a) spiritual. b) material. c) social. d) physical.
b) material
According to Karl Marx, the owners of the factories or the "means of production" are the a) meritocracy. b) corporate clients. c) proletariat. d) bourgeoisie.
d) bourgeoisie
According to the textbook, what is the best insurance against living in poverty? a) Hard work b) The number of children c) Educational attainment d)A family structure
c) educational attainment
The largest percentage of people experiencing homelessness are a) teenage runaways. b) veterans. c) families with children. d) elderly men.
c) families with children
Which of the following is an example of corporate welfare? a) Severance pay and unemployment insurance b) Donation of money by a large corporation to a homeless shelter c) Low-interest government loans, subsidies, and tax breaks to corporations d) Employee assistance programs
c) low-interest government loans, subsidies, and tax breaks to corporations
Most Section 8 housing is in low-income areas because of a) the higher cost of construction in middle-class areas. b) local legal restrictions. c) opposition by residents in middle-class neighborhoods. d) the higher cost of existing dwellings in middle-class areas.
c) opposition by residents in middle-class neighborhood
True/False Medicaid is automatically available to all recipients of TANF.
False
Most TANF recipients are a) children. b) disabled. c) immigrants. d) elderly.
a) children
_____ is a refundable tax credit based on a working family's income and the number of children. a) SNAP b) AFDC c) FDIC d) EITC
d) EITC
True/False There are no limits to how long an individual can receive TANF benefits.
false
True/False According to the structural functionalists, poverty is sometimes functional for society.
true
True/False Tax rates that are proportionately higher for those with higher incomes are "progressive."
true
true/false Extreme poverty refers to living on less than $1.90 per day.
true
In 1996, Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, commonly referred to as "welfare reform," that established a) Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). b) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). c) the Food Stamp Program. d) the National School Lunch Program.
b) TANF
Lauri and Ben both work full time, but their annual income is just above the poverty line. They represent those considered as a) relatively poor. b) near-poor. c) income challenged. d) median income poor.
b) near-poor
In which region of the United States are poverty rates the highest? a) The Northeast b) The South and West c) The New England states d) The Midwest
b) the south and west
True/False American wages and salaries have kept up with the increases in productivity
false
True/False Noncitizen immigrants are more likely to receive public assistance than American citizens.
false
True/False Section 8 housing involves the construction of large housing "projects" for low-income families.
false
_____ poverty is usually set at $1.25 a day or less. a) Relative b) Extreme c) Absolute d) Reduced
b) extreme
True/False The Multidimensional Poverty Index includes a dimension measuring "life satisfaction."
False
True/False The federal poverty line takes into account the different costs of living from state to state.
False
True/False People whose incomes are lower than the poverty line are less likely to be married than wealthier people.
True
As companies relocate to poor countries with abundant supplies of cheap labor, wages decline and a) consumer spending decreases. b) more industries grow and prosper. c) unemployment rates decrease. d) quality of life increases.
a) consumer spending decreases
Parents whose incomes are below the poverty line are a) less likely to leave children home without adult supervision than nonpoor working parents. b) more likely to use harsh disciplinary techniques than nonpoor parents. c) as nurturing and supportive of their children as nonpoor parents. d) as likely to provide medical care for their children as nonpoor parents.
b) more likely to use harsh disciplinary techniques than non poor parents
Which of the following is an example of a human development investment? a) Putting fathers who don't pay child support in jail b) Providing access to family planning c) Tax credits for businesses d) Tax refunds for "green" manufacturing
b) providing access to family planning
Bonnie lives in a small one-room apartment and is able to afford only the necessities. Bonnie lives a) in absolute poverty. b) in relative poverty. c) with restricted assets. d) in extreme poverty.
b) relative poverty
The majority of the people living in extreme poverty live in a) Eastern Europe or North Africa. b) sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia. c) the Middle East or Western Europe. d) South America or North America.
b) sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia
_____ refers to the higher proportion of women than men in poverty. a) The hopelessly poor b) The feminization of poverty c) Slum housing d) The economic sex ratio
b) the feminization of poverty
Which statement is true about the relationship between education and poverty? a) Almost all jobs now require a degree. b) The higher the person's level of education, the less likely the person is to be poor. c) Because of the cost of higher education, those with advanced degrees are more likely to be poor. d) There is no consistent relationship between education and poverty.
b) the higher the person's level of education, the less likely the person is to be poor
What is a likely consequence of absolute poverty in low-income countries? a) Reliance on government programs b) Unsafe water and sanitation c) Healthy lifestyles due to a lack of access to luxuries d) The emergence of capitalism
b) unsafe water and sanitation
Advocates for people whose incomes are below the poverty line point out that economic development a) does not always reduce poverty but does not increase it. b) has no impact on poverty. c) sometimes increases poverty. d) always reduces poverty.
c) sometimes increases poverty
Which sociological perspective is most likely to focus on the labels attached to different groups of people based on their socioeconomic position? a) Structural functionalism b) Feminist theory c) Symbolic interactionism d) Conflict theory
c) symbolic interactionism
Supplemental Security Income provides a minimum income to a) mothers under the age of 18. b) recent immigrants. c) the disabled. d) families of the imprisoned.
c) the disabled
The U.S. poverty line is calculated as a) four times the average cost of an adequate diet. b) the average cost of food, shelter, and transportation. c) three times the minimum cost of an adequate diet. d) two times the average cost of food and shelter.
c) three times the minimum cost of an adequate diet
True/False The wealthy have a disadvantage influencing the political system, especially because corporations have limited political spending power.
false
True/False There are no limits on how much corporations can donate to political campaigns.
false
true/false Food insecurity does not exist in the United States.
false
true/false The rich and people whose incomes are below the poverty line are equally vulnerable to devastation from natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, and earthquakes.
false
The poverty line is considered to be a(n) _____ standard. a) federal b) local c) state d) international
a) federal
Poverty levels in the United States are calculated based on the a) number of adults in a family. b) education of the adults. c) region of the United States. d) health care costs of the family.
a) number of adults in family
Which country has the highest rate of poverty among OECD countries? a) England b) The United States c) Spain d) Canada
b) The United States
Who is most likely to live below the poverty line in the United States? a) A White female b) A Black female c) A Black male d) A White male
b) a black female
Americans living in households with income below 50 percent of the poverty line are considered to be in a) lower poverty. b) deep poverty. c) challenging poverty. d) multidimensional poverty.
b) deep poverty
Who is most likely to own a home? a) The Velasquez family, a Hispanic family b) The Emerson family, a White family c) The Johnson family, a Black family d) The Jim family, a Native American family
d) The Jim family, a Native American family
true/false Single-parent households are more likely to live in poverty than two-parent households.
true
What is the largest expense for most families? a) Housing b) Education c)Medicine d)Food
a) housing
_____ is poverty that is transmitted from one generation to the next. a) Intergenerational poverty b) Intragenerational poverty c) Socioeconomic poverty d) Inherited poverty
a) intergenerational poverty
_____ households are defined as households with incomes that are between 100 and 200 percent of the federal poverty line. a) Low-income b) Desperate c) Underclass d) Middle-class
a) low-income
The largest food assistance program in the United States is now called a) food stamps. b) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. c) the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). d) school lunch and breakfast programs.
b) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The Multidimensional Poverty Index includes the a)deprivation of time. b)deprivation of health. c)deprivation of affection. d)deprivation of happiness.
b) deprivation of health
Who is the wealthiest person in the world? a) Donald Trump b) Queen Elizabeth c) Jeff Bezos d) Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
c) Jeff Bezos
Many people whose incomes are below the poverty line feel powerless and unable to influence decisions in the larger society. This reflects a sense of a) the standardization of poverty. b) ideological suffrage. c) political alienation. d) anomie.
c) political alientation
How many children live in poverty in the United States? a) One in two children b) None c) One in ten children d) One in five children
d) one in five children
True/False The richest 1 percent of the adults in the world own nearly half of the global household wealth.
true
A social system in which individuals get ahead and earn rewards based on their individual efforts and abilities is a a) meritocracy. b) gerontocracy. c) plutocracy. d)theocracy.
a) meritocracy
_____ poverty refers to a deficiency of material and economic resources compared with some other population. a) Relative b) Absolute c) Standardized d) Comparative
a) relative
Head Start and Early Head Start are _____ assistance programs. a) food b) educational c) housing d) job training
b) educational
Which of the following is cited in the textbook as a cause of homelessness? a) Poor life choices b) Irresponsibility c) Having a 401(k) retirement account d) Domestic violence
d) domestic violence
According to the textbook, which of these is an explanation of poverty passed down to the next generation? a) A relative lack of family and educational values among inner-city mothers b) A decrease in births among unmarried parents c) A decline in the availability of marriageable females d) The movement of well-paid jobs out of urban areas
d) the movement of well-paid jobs out of urban areas
Which of the following represents a positive function of poverty? a) The people whose incomes are below the poverty line often violate the law. b) The people whose incomes are below the poverty line usually get enough to eat. c) The people whose incomes are below the poverty line can receive welfare. d) The people whose incomes are below the poverty line will take up unpleasant jobs.
d) the people whose incomes are below the poverty line will take up unpleasant jobs
Individuals who spend at least 27 weeks per year in the labor force but whose income falls below the official poverty level are called a) the living waged. b) the near-poor. c) the underemployed. d) the working poor.
d) the working poor
According to modern conflict theorists, the power to influence economic outcomes in a society comes from a) ownership of the means of production. b) advertising. c) hard work and determination. d) royalty.
a) ownership of the means of production
Which of the following is a form of educational assistance to low-income families? a) Legacy scholarships b) Federal college work-study program c) The state scholarship program d) Local bank loans to individuals
d) Federal college work-study program
Frank's employer refused to pay overtime but still required him to work more than 40 hours per week. The employer committed a) reverse credit. b) no violation of the law. c) wage theft. d) robbery.
c) wage theft
What is the connection between poverty and the U.S. legal system? a) Public defender offices suffer from a lack of money and too much work. b) People whose incomes are below the poverty line are likely to use the best attorneys with the most resources at the taxpayers' expense. c) The law ensures equality in the justice system. d) Defendants whose incomes are below the poverty line do not have to accept plea bargains because their attorneys are provided for them.
d) defendants whose incomes are below the poverty line do not have to accept plea bargains because their attorneys are provided for them
elative to other income groups, wages rose most for the _____ in recent years. a) seasonal workers b) middle-income earners c) bottom 1 percent d) top executives
d) top executives
"Wealthfare" refers to a) favors for the rich in the form of government policies. b) government programs that provide food, health care, and minimal monthly incomes to people whose incomes are below the poverty line. c) low-interest subsidies to apartment complexes that rent to people whose incomes are below the poverty line. d) low-interest loans to people near the poverty line.
a) favors for the rich in the form of government policies
According to the textbook, which is a myth about welfare? a) Immigrants place a huge burden on our welfare system. b) There is no abuse of the assistance program. c) Some welfare recipients work for pay. d) Welfare benefits are granted only to people who are really poor.
a) immigrants place a huge burden on our welfare system
In 2019, the average household income for Whites was _____ the average for Black households. a) about equal to b) slightly less than c) about twice d) slightly more than
c) about twice
Which measure of poverty refers to a condition of not having access to the necessary resources? a) Actual poverty b) Relative poverty c) Absolute poverty d) Structural poverty
c) absolute poverty
Wealth, the total assets of an individual or household, includes a) credit card debt. b) mortgages. c) checking and savings accounts. d) student loans.
c) checking and savings accounts
The wide gap that divides the rich and the people who live in poverty, which includes both income and wealth, is referred to as a) life inequality. b) pay inequality. c) political inequality. d)economic inequality.
d) economic inequality
Which of the following is a "means-tested program"? a) Prison b) State achievement tests to graduate high school c) Subprime mortgage d) Government public assistance programs for people whose incomes are below the poverty line
d) government public assistance programs for people whose incomes are below poverty line
Critics of the U.S. poverty line argue that a) the U.S. poverty line accounts too much for regional differences and not enough for local variations in the cost of living. b) the homeless are overrepresented among the poor. c) Medicaid and public housing are inappropriately included in the income estimates of a family. d) low-income families today spend far less than one-third of their income on food.
d) low-income families today spend far less than one-third of their income on food
True/False "Near poor" refers to Americans living in households with income below 50 percent of the poverty line.
False
After two years of receiving benefits, adult recipients of the federal cash assistance program a) must be either employed or involved in work-related activities, such as on-the-job training, job search, and vocational education. b) are declared permanently on government assistance. c) revert to the AFDC program. d) are completely cut off from assistance.
a) must be either employed or involved in work-related activities, such as on-the-job training, job search, and vocational eduction
In industrialized countries, national poverty lines are sometimes based on the median household income of a country's population. According to this _____ poverty measure, members of a household are considered poor if their household income is less than 50 percent of the median household income in that country. a) relative b) standardized c) absolute d) comparative
a) relative
Dr. Carlson is a sociologist who argues that inequality motivates people to achieve success. Dr. Carlson is most likely a a) structural functionalist. b) postmodernist. c) symbolic interactionist. d) conflict theorist.
a) structural functionalist
In Denmark and the United States, support for social welfare programs varied based on whether respondents felt people whose incomes are below the poverty line were seen as lazy or unlucky. Which of the following perspectives is most likely to support this view? a) Symbolic interactionism b) Structural functionalism c) Conflict theory d) Feminist theory
a) symbolic interactionism
According to the textbook, which of these contributes most to homelessness? a) The high cost of finding a place to live b) Running away from home c) Not taking responsibility d) A desire for a free and easy life
a) the high cost of finding a place to live
_____ is an international agenda for reducing poverty and improving the lives of people whose incomes are lower than the poverty line. a) The set of Sustainable Development Goals b) The World United c) Occupy Wall Street d) The Affordable Care Act
a) the set of Sustainable Development Goals
Which evidence counters the myth that fraud and abuse are rampant in the welfare system? a) Many families who receive TANF benefits have employment earnings. b) Welfare programs have restrictive requirements and limits on their use. c) The vast majority of improper payments occur as a result of bureaucratic error. d) Some individuals who are eligible for public assistance do not receive it because it is not available.
c) The vast majority of improper payments occur as a result of bureaucratic error.
A nation controlled by those with the most resources is called a) capitalist. b) a meritocracy. c) a plutocracy. d) a theocracy.
c) a plutocracy
Research findings show that businesses that pay their employees a living wage have a) lower productivity. b) a higher worker turnover. c) a stronger consumer market. d) higher training costs.
c) a stronger consumer market
The purpose of the Sustainable Development Goals pledged by 191 United Nations member countries is to reduce a) worldwide population growth. b) the number of people who receive government assistance. c) economic inequality. d) the number of the world's orphaned children who lack adult caretakers.
c) economic inequality
Which of these myths about welfare in the United States is countered by the requirement that adults must meet strict work requirements? a) Welfare benefits are granted to many people who are not really poor or eligible to receive them. b) Welfare makes people dependent on the government and prevents them from becoming contributing citizens. c) People who receive welfare are lazy, have no work ethic, and prefer a free ride on welfare rather than work. d) Fraud and abuse are rampant in the welfare system.
c) people who receive welfare are lazy, have no work ethnic, and prefer a free ride on welfare rather then work
Areas of poverty and poor housing are called a) neighborhoods. b) exurbs. c) slums. d) suburbs.
c) slums
Which of the following perspectives are most likely to argue that physicians should be paid higher than most occupations because their job is more important than most and requires so much education and training? a) Feminist theory b) Symbolic interactionism c) Structural functionalism d) Conflict theory
c) structural functionalism
_____ refer to programs that have eligibility requirements based on income. a) Economic scholarships b) Minimum wage programs c) Safety net programs d)Means-tested programs
d) means-tested programs
The official poverty line in the United States has been criticized because it is based on a) tax credits. b) tax burdens. c) taxable income. d) pretax income.
d) pretax income
What is a likely consequence of economic inequality? a) Wealth "trickles down" to the middle class. b) The local economy grows because the wealthy invest. c) The local economy suffers because the wealthy spend elsewhere. d) Wages increase for the lower class because the wealthy can afford the increases.
c) the local economy suffers because the wealthy spend elsewhere
Exceptions to the eligibility rules to receive TANF include a) recent immigration. b) single parents of children under the age of 18. c) victims of domestic violence. d) residents of low unemployment areas.
c) victims of domestic violence
Living wage laws require state or municipal contractors, recipients of public subsidies or tax breaks, or, in some cases, businesses to pay employees a) wages below the federal minimum wage for legal immigrants with work visas. b) wages below the federal minimum wage for disabled workers. c) wages large enough to enable families to live above the poverty line. d) overtime wages if they work over 40 hours per week.
c) wages large enough to enable families o live above the poverty line
Which term refers to the total assets of an individual or household minus liabilities? a) Gross income per capita b) Standard of living c) Wealth d) Income
c) wealth
Which of the following statements is true? a) Eligibility for cash assistance automatically conveys eligibility for Medicaid. b) Medicaid is a private program while Medicare is a government program. c) All people below the federal poverty line are automatically eligible for Medicaid. d) States decide who is eligible for Medicaid.
d) States decide who is eligible for Medicaid
Which of the following tax reforms on the wealthy would help reduce economic inequality? a) Itemized deductions are expanded for the wealthy. b) The capital gains taxes are lowered. c) The current taxes for the wealthy already reduce economic inequality. d) A surge in pricing for estate and gift taxes is introduced.
d) a surge in pricing for estate and gift taxes is introduced
The term "_____" refers to the lack of resources that leads to hunger and physical deprivation. a) relative poverty b) lower class c) socioeconomic inequality d) absolute poverty
d) absolute poverty
Section 8 housing a) includes federal rent subsidies to tenants, not landlords. b) is currently adequate to meet the needs of low-income families but is projected to fail to meet future needs. c) builds new houses for low-income families. d) attempts to disperse low-income families to properties outside low-income neighborhoods.
d) attempts to disperse low-income families to properties outside low-income neighborhoods
Which of the following is included in the official poverty calculations? a) The federal earned income tax credit that many families receive b) Family assets, such as savings and property c) The tax burdens of low-income families d) Pretax income
d) pretax income
Microcredit programs a) offer World Bank loans to large capital investors who agree to establish manufacturing industries in developing countries. b) require an applicant to provide a 20 percent minimum capital investment and have good credit. c) do not require repayment of loans if the recipients establish businesses in low-income areas. d) provide loans to people who generally cannot get traditional credit.
d) provide loans to people who generally cannot get traditional credit
Medicaid a) specializes in medical care for severely, chronically ill children. b)is federally subsidized food assistance for malnourished children. c) is federally subsidized medical services and hospitalization for the elderly. d) provides medical care for people whose incomes are below the poverty line through reimbursements to physicians and hospitals.
d) provides medical care for people whose incomes are below the poverty line through reimbursements to physicians and hospitals.
The Occupy Wall Street movement often refers to the "99 percent" meaning a) that most of our income should go untaxed. b) the vast majority of people in banking and finance are criminals. c) the majority of people in Congress. d) regular hardworking Americans.
d) regular hardworking Americans
Most people experiencing homelessness in America a) stay in shelters made of discarded materials. b) live in their vehicles. c) live on the street. d) stay in shelters or transitional housing.
d) stay in shelters or transitional housing
Dr. Dobbins argues that the words we use, such as "welfare," influence how we feel about people receiving assistance. Dr. Dobbins is a a) conflict theorist. b) postmodernist. c) structural functionalist. d) symbolic interactionist.
d) symbolic interactionist
Which of the following statements best describes the wealth distribution in the world? a) It takes 1 million dollars to count among the wealthiest half of the world's population. b) We have no way of knowing how wealth is distributed in the world. c) The richest half of the population owns half of the wealth. d) The richest 1 percent owns more than half of the world's wealth.
d) the richest 1 percent owns more than half of the world's wealth
According to the textbook, teenage girls whose incomes are below the poverty line may be motivated to have a child a) to collect welfare. b) to move out of their parents' household. c) to have an excuse to drop out of school. d) to make a change in their lives toward something better.
d) to make a change in their lives toward something better