Quiz 5: Stratification and Inequality

A person's position in a country's social stratification is determined by: A) GNI PPP, GDP, GNI, the PRB, and standards of living B) Clothes, accessories, hobbies, shoes, and number of credit cards C) Wealth, power, income, race, education D) Prestige, family, legal records, occupation, and favorite food

C) Wealth, power, income, race, education

Elisa graduated from college with a double major and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa society. She was then offered a job in New York where she worked 12 hours a day and produced excellent results. Within two years she had over 100 employees working under her. Elisa's hard work was rewarded with a raise and a bonus. This form of promotion is based on the principles of: A) A democracy B) A caste system C) A meritocracy D) A closed stratification system

C) A meritocracy

Which is an effect of absolute poverty that also contributes to its cyclical nature? A) Home foreclosures B) Excellent healthcare C) Lack of education D) Massive credit card debt

C) Lack of education

Charlotte was born to a lower class family in rural Pennsylvania. After taking a job in the mail room of a large corporate office, Charlotte is slowly promoted through the ranks and becomes CEO of the company by the age of 50. What type of stratification is shown in this story? A) Intragenerational mobility B) Downward mobility C) Intergenerational mobility D) Structural mobility

A) Intragenerational mobility

One main issue in studying global social inequality is: A) Social inequality is relative and therefore, difficult to compare across cultures. B) Most countries keep their economic situations secret. C) The presence of tourism can make a country look richer than it really is. D) Most people live beyond their means which gives a false sense of wealth to a society.

A) Social inequality is relative and therefore, difficult to compare across cultures.

Symbolic interactionists have come to the conclusion that: A) Only upper class people can enjoy a good game of polo. B) Most people only socialize with people in their same social class. C) Most people do not care about social rank and standing. D) Only lower class people drink beer.

B) Most people only socialize with people in their same social class.

Immanuel Wallerstein's classification of nations uses which set of terms? A) first world, second world, third world B) primary nation, secondary nation, tertiary nation C) core nation, peripheral nation, semi-peripheral nation D) super powers, allies of super powers, enemies of super powers

C) core nation, peripheral nation, semi-peripheral nation

Hope is desperate for the new designer purse that she saw while window shopping at her local mall. She knew every girl in school would covet her bag and wish to be like her. When she walked in, she whipped out her credit card, and purchased the $5,000 bag. This kind of purchasing is called: A) Credit card consumerism B) Designer consumerism C) Popular consumerism D) Conspicuous consumption

D) Conspicuous consumption

In 2008 the United States, as well as the rest of the world, felt the effects of the recession. After the collapse of the housing market, people lost their jobs and they quit spending money. Many people could not afford their mortgages anymore and their homes went into foreclosure. For many people, it was a time of __________. A) Horizontal mobility B) Social stratification C) Social inconsistency D) Downward mobility

D) Downward mobility

What is particularly unique about the United States middle class? A) It is the smallest class in the United States. B) The people who are middle class often have little to no education. C) The upper class are as likely to become members of the lower class as members of the lower class are likely to become members of the upper class. D) It is broken into two subcategories: upper and lower middle class.

D) It is broken into two subcategories: upper and lower middle class.

Which social class is quickly disappearing from modern economies? A) Lower Class B) The amount of people in each class has been about the same for the past 10 years. C) Upper Class D) Middle Class

D) Middle Class

In recent times, scholars have been trying to sort out why the countries on the continent of Africa, as a whole, have trouble competing to today's global, capitalist economy. While an answer to this question is complex and carries with it many ambiguities, most scholars point to European colonialism as a key to understanding the current state of Africa. A sociologist studying this topic, would ascribe to which theoretical paradigm? A) Conflict theory B) Feminist theory C) Structural functionalism D) Symbolic interactionism

A) Conflict theory

Since the social classes in the United States do not have any clear boundaries, how is a sociologist supposed to determine whether their subjects are in the upper class or the upper-middle class? A) The upper class is split into "old money" and "new money" people, while the upper-middle class simply struggles to maintain its wealth. B) All upper class people enjoy opera and have been bred for their stations while the upper-middle class consists mostly of newly wealthy people who may not have had the same kind of upbringing. C) In the upper class, everyone knows everyone, but in the upper-middle class, the people do not comingle. D) Upper class is often defined as having control over one's life and the lives of people around you, while the upper-middle class is often defined as having control only over one's own life.

D) Upper class is often defined as having control over one's life and the lives of people around you, while the upper-middle class is often defined as having control only over one's own life.

How is global stratification different from social stratification? A) Global stratification examines a myriad of different types of prejudice and inequality, while social stratification covers the social class and standing of individuals. B) Global stratification can only measure the inequalities among purely democratic states, while social stratification can be expanded to apply to people in any country in the world. C) Countries cannot move up and down the global stratification ladder, unlike people who can use social mobility to climb or fall down the social stratification ladder. D) Global stratification only examines environmental inequalities among nations while social stratification examines inequalities among people.

A) Global stratification examines a myriad of different types of prejudice and inequality, while social stratification covers the social class and standing of individuals.

Child labor and sweatshops have existed since the Industrial Revolution and even before that. Many products sold today are created in these sweatshops, even though, living in the 21st century, we like to think we are above such practices. What is one practical way we can try and stop multinational companies from using such labor? A) We can ignore the problem because it will eventually go away. B) We can be responsible consumers and research products before buying them. C) We can trust that the CEOs and the members of the board of the companies will do the right thing. D) We can justify such practices because they are legal in other countries.

B) We can be responsible consumers and research products before buying them.

Mohit spent his days combing through garbage in Mumbai, India with his brothers and sisters. Sometimes he would find food, or something to sell for money. He never tried to overcome his lower-class status because he had seen his friends try and fail. So, he accepted his fate, and tried to live life as best he could in a closed society. Mohit is an example of someone living under: A) A meritocracy B) A dictatorship C) A caste system D) An oligarchy

C) A caste system

Which trend has the World Bank seen in its study of poverty in low-income nations? A) Equal numbers of men and women live in poverty. B) More men live in poverty than women. C) More women live in poverty than men. D) Children can avoid living in poverty if they live with their fathers.

C) More women live in poverty than men.

Which factor is considered when evaluating someone's standard of living? A) Employment B) Class C) Income D) All of these

D) All of these

What seems to be the key (although not the rule) to upward social mobility? A) How many jobs you work. B) How well off your parents are. C) How much you spend on your personal appearance. D) How much education you have.

D) How much education you have.

What is the most significant threat to the relatively high standard of living people are accustomed to in the United States? A) The stagnation of wages for workers B) The growth of the upper class C) The feminization of poverty D) The decline of the middle class

D) The decline of the middle class