Deck 13: Politics and the Economy in Global Perspective

Question 1

Religion may be a source of social solidarity as well as social conflict.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Most school funding comes from the federal government, and a small percentage comes from state legislative appropriations and local property taxes.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

There are large differences in scores on academic tests between white students and African American and Hispanic/Latino students.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Standardized tests are an effective means of testing student intelligence and ability.

Question 5

Both religion and education are responsible for teaching knowledge, cultural values, and beliefs.

Question 6

All types of religions have some type of all-powerful supernatural being at the center of the belief system.

Question 7

Sociologists all share the same perspective on the role of education in society.

Question 8

Most social scientists believe that tracking is an effective means of giving students of color and those from low- income families an opportunity to excel academically and thus enable future success.

Question 9

Students using voucher programs to attend school outperform public students on standardized tests.

Question 10

Not all analysts or functionalists agree on what the functions of education should be in contemporary societies.

Question 11

All students are subject to the hidden curriculum in education.

Question 12

The functions of religion (providing meaning and purpose, promoting social cohesion and a sense of belonging, and providing social control and support for the government) can only be fulfilled by beliefs and practices that are supernatural in nature.

Question 13

Civil religion in the United States is not necessarily the same thing as Christianity.

Question 14

In the United States, the separation of church and state reduces the religious legitimation of political power.

Question 15

Efforts to eliminate racial/ethnic segregation in public education have failed in many districts throughout the United States.

Question 16

In any given religion, men and women will hold the same beliefs.

Question 17

Modernity always leads to the secularization of a society.

Question 18

Male students have a higher rate of graduation from high school and college than their female peers.

Question 19

There is ample evidence that girls' increased educational achievement has come at the expense of boys.

Question 20

Community colleges are one of the fastest growing segments of higher education.

Question 21

Some argue that U.S. education is not promoting the high-level skills in reading, writing, science, and mathematics that are needed in the workplace and the global economy. From the functionalist perspective this is considered a(n) __________.

A) latent function
B) manifest function
C) dysfunction
D) instrumental function

Question 22

Schools help to identify the most qualified people to fill available positions in society by channeling students into programs based on their ability and academic achievement. This is the manifest function of education termed __________.

A) change and innovation
B) transmission of culture
C) social control
D) social placement

Question 23

Early in the twentieth century, all states passed mandatory education laws that require children to _.

A) attend school until they reach a certain age or complete a minimum level of education
B) pass a number of proficiency exams before leaving the eighth and twelfth grades
C) spend at least nine months of the year in school
D) learn a foreign language and basic mathematic skills

Question 24

Over time, new educational programs are introduced to meet societal needs. Programs such as sex education, drug education, and multicultural studies have been implemented to teach students about pressing social issues. These examples illustrate the manifest function of education called .

A) socialization
B) transmission of culture
C) change and innovation
D) social placement

Question 25

Some functions of education are , which are open, stated, and intended goals or consequences of activities within an organization or institution.

A) latent functions
B) intrinsic functions
C) extrinsic functions
D) manifest functions

Question 26

Students may learn information in school that contradicts beliefs held by their parents or their religion. Debates over the content of textbooks and library books typically center on information that parents deem unacceptable for their children. This illustrates the latent function of education known as .

A) social placement
B) matchmaking and production of social networks
C) restricting some activities
D) creation of a generation gap

Question 27

Education is the social institution responsible for the systematic transmission of within a formally organized structure.

A) knowledge, skills, and cultural values
B) cultural values and beliefs
C) technical skills and training
D) information or knowledge

Question 28

Education keeps students off the street and out of the full-time job market for a number of years, keeping levels of unemployment within reasonable bounds. This is an example of a latent function of education the text terms __________.

A) restricting some activities
B) matchmaking and production of social networks
C) creation of a generation gap
D) social placement

Question 29

A(n) function in education includes teaching specific subjects, such as science, mathematics, reading, history, and English.

A) extrinsic
B) manifest
C) intrinsic
D) latent

Question 30

Education serves five major manifest functions in society, including .

A) providing child care
B) transmitting culture
C) matchmaking and social networking
D) organizing athletic events

Question 31

Because schools bring together people of similar ages, social class, and race/ethnicity, young people often meet future marriage partners. This latent function of education results in .

A) the creation of a generation gap
B) the transmission of culture
C) matchmaking and the production of social networks
D) restricting some activities

Question 32

Both religion and education .

A) impart values, beliefs, and knowledge considered essential to the social reproduction of society and the individual
B) are provided publically by state and federal governments
C) deal with issues of governance and social movements
D) are relatively new social institutions

Question 33

theorists believe that education is an important part of society because it contributes to social stability and provides people with an opportunity for self-enhancement and upward social mobility.

A) Symbolic interactionist
B) Conflict
C) Postmodern
D) Functionalist

Question 34

In the absence of a constitutional amendment, issues relating to the separation of church and state, including religious instruction in public schools, are ultimately constitutional issues that are decided by .

A) the president of the United States
B) state governors
C) Congress
D) the U.S. Supreme Court

Question 35

An important function of education is , which involves teaching students values such as discipline, respect, obedience, and punctuality.

A) social placement
B) transmission of culture
C) social control
D) change and innovation

Question 36

Schools play an active part in the process of assimilation, whereby recent immigrants learn dominant values, attitudes, and behavior of society. This is an aspect of the manifest function of education referred to as __________.

A) social placement
B) transmission of culture
C) social control
D) change and innovation

Question 37

Religious fundamentalism now only appeals to people who have lower incomes, live in rural areas, and have lower levels of educational attainment.

Question 38

According to the functionalist perspective, all social institutions, including education, have functions that are hidden, unstated, and sometimes unintended consequences of their activities. These are termed .

A) intrinsic functions
B) latent functions
C) extrinsic functions
D) manifest functions

Question 39

From kindergarten through college, schools teach students the student role as well as other important information about society. Which of the following manifest functions of education does this describe?

A) socialization
B) transmission of culture
C) social placement
D) change and innovation

Question 40

Early sociologist saw the responsibility of education as teaching a commitment to a shared social morality. In this way, education is crucial for promoting solidarity and stability in society.

A) Emile Durkheim
B) Robert Merton
C) Max Weber
D) Karl Marx

Question 41

refers to the practice of assigning students to specific curriculum groups and courses on the basis of their test scores, previous grades, or other criteria.

A) Age grading
B) Intelligence grouping
C) Tracking
D) Ability segregation

Question 42

French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu used the term to refer to a person's social assets, including knowledge of how to dress, language competency, and knowledge of art and music.

A) cultural capital
B) social wealth
C) etiquette
D) cultural toolkit

Question 43

Schools for are more likely to emphasize engaging in creative activities, building analytical and critical thinking skills, and applying one's own ideas to solve problems.

A) lower-income students
B) middle-class students
C) developmentally challenged students
D) affluent students

Question 44

Although many factors, including intelligence, motivation, and previous achievement, are important in determining how much education a person will attain, argue that access to quality education is largely determined by social class.

A) symbolic interactionists
B) functionalists
C) postmodernists
D) conflict theorists

Question 45

According to sociologist , students from diverse class backgrounds come to school with different amounts of cultural capital, which refers to social assets that include values, beliefs, attitudes, and competencies in language and culture.

A) Karl Marx
B) Pierre Bourdieu
C) Emile Durkheim
D) Max Weber

Question 46

theorists do not believe that public schools reduce social inequality in society; rather, they believe that schools perpetuate class, racial/ethnic, and gender inequalities by reinforcing the privileged position of some at the expense of others.

A) Functionalist
B) Symbolic interactionist
C) Conflict
D) Postmodern

Question 47

Many see lagging test scores as a sign that problems exist in the nation's educational system. From a perspective, improved teacher training and more stringent academic requirements for students are the best way to address these problems.

A) conflict
B) postmodern
C) functionalist
D) symbolic interactionist

Question 48

Tracking or ability grouping is based on the assumption that it is easier to teach a group whose members have similar abilities. theorists are critics of the practice of tracking, arguing that it negatively affects learning and achievement for many students.

A) Functionalist
B) Conflict
C) Symbolic interactionist
D) Postmodern

Question 49

According to conflict theorists, credentialism, the hidden curriculum, and a belief in ensure that the best education and job opportunities will go to members of the middle and upper classes.

A) tracking
B) equal opportunity
C) meritocracy
D) bureaucracy

Question 50

reflects a "proper" attitude toward education, socially approved dress and manners, and knowledge about books, art, music, and other forms of high and popular culture.

A) Cultural capital
B) Social wealth
C) Etiquette
D) Cultural toolkit

Question 51

According to some critics, the standardized tests that are used to group students by ability often measure students' rather than their "natural" intelligence or aptitude.

A) cultural capital
B) social wealth
C) prestige
D) cultural toolkit

Question 52

Critics of tracking or ability grouping are often in favor of , wherein students are deliberately placed in mixed ability classes.

A) regular classes
B) mixed tracking
C) untracking
D) detracking

Question 53

is a process in which academic qualifications are necessary in order to attain class advantage and higher social status.

A) Credentialism
B) Tracking
C) The hidden curriculum
D) Ability grouping

Question 54

The term refers to a social system in which status is assumed to be acquired through individual ability and effort.

A) tracking
B) credentialism
C) meritocracy
D) educational bureaucracy

Question 55

Through the , schools make working-class and poverty-level students aware that they will be expected to take orders from others, arrive at work punctually, follow bureaucratic rules, and experience high levels of boredom without complaining.

A) tracking system
B) hidden curriculum
C) manifest function of education
D) resocialization process

Question 56

In addition to teaching subject content and skills, school routines and regulations train students to respect cultural values; routines and regulations also shape attitudes and values such as conformity and obedience to authority. Sociologists term this the .

A) tracking system
B) hidden curriculum
C) manifest function of education
D) resocialization

Question 57

Schools with more middle-class students have curricula that emphasize .

A) procedures and rote memorization
B) decision making and choice
C) creative self-expression
D) critical reasoning

Question 58

Schools with more low-income students have curricula that emphasize .

A) procedures and rote memorization
B) decision making and choice
C) theoretical explanations
D) critical reasoning

Question 59

The perspective focuses on how classroom communication and educational practices affect students' self-concept and aspirations.

A) conflict
B) functionalist
C) symbolic interactionist
D) postmodern

Question 60

With regard to gender in education, .

A) there is ample evidence that girls' increased educational achievement has come at the expense of boys
B) there is a growing concern about gender bias in schools disadvantaging female students and hurting their self- esteem
C) women today are enrolling in and graduating from college in higher numbers than men
D) boys and girls are now equal across all subjects in exam scores

Question 61

Symbolic interactionists are most likely to view grades, written comments on assignments, and evaluations of behavior in classes as contributing to .

A) the smooth functioning of the classroom
B) the perpetuation of the system of social class in society
C) labeling individual students
D) the dysfunctions of education

Question 62

The term refers to an unsubstantiated belief or prediction resulting in behavior that makes the originally false belief come true.

A) self-fulfilling prophecy
B) learning disability
C) defeating perception
D) fallacy of reasoning

Question 63

Based on the results of an IQ test, a teacher believes that some students of color are less capable of learning and treats them accordingly. This may contribute to .

A) the iron law of oligarchy
B) the labeling process
C) tracking
D) the hidden curriculum

Question 64

are most likely to view grades, written comments on assignments, and evaluations of behavior in classes as contributing to labeling.

A) Symbolic interactionists
B) Postmodernists
C) Functionalists
D) Conflict theorists

Question 65

Emile Durkheim used the term to refer to things that inspire reverence and a deep sense of awe and respect that is beyond the ordinary.

A) profane
B) sacred
C) spiritual
D) magical

Question 66

Luis has a bad day and scores poorly on an exam. The teacher views him as lazy and unintelligent and pays only negative attention to him, if any. Luis loses interest in school and stops reading and doing homework. He ultimately fails. Symbolic interactionists would term this situation .

A) a self-fulfilling prophecy
B) the hidden curriculum
C) tracking or ability testing
D) a dysfunction of the educational system

Question 67

Status dropout rates are a measure of the .

A) number of students enrolled in school at any given time
B) percent of people in the general population who have earned a high school degree or its equivalent
C) percentage of people in an age group who are not enrolled in school and have not earned a high school degree or its equivalent
D) percentage of the local population that is currently enrolled in and attending school

Question 68

Today, about of U.S. undergraduates are educated in community colleges.

A) 5 percent
B) 10 percent
C) 25 percent
D) 50 percent

Question 69

According to symbolic interactionists, the process of labeling is directly related to the .

A) innate or natural ability of students
B) role of the education system is creating stability in society
C) relative power and status of those who do the labeling and those being labeled
D) need for social control in society

Question 70

Sociologists use the term for a system of sacred or supernatural beliefs, symbols, and rituals that guides human behavior, gives meaning to life, and unites believers into a community.

A) secularization
B) spirituality
C) religion
D) liberation theology

Question 71

Clifford Geertz notes that religion is .

A) a set of beliefs that give people moral direction
B) doctrine or written text that comes from sources like the Bible or the Koran
C) a set of cultural symbols that elicit powerful moods and motivations and that give meaning to people's behavior
D) the belief in a single, all-powerful, supernatural being that creates and guides human life

Question 72

In regard to unequal funding as a source of unequal education, the text notes that .

A) an influx of federal funds has largely ended the problem by equalizing funding
B) most educational funds are derived from state and local taxes
C) the property tax base for central city schools has continued to grow in most regions
D) recent redistribution of funds has made many schools' resources more equitable than in the past

Question 73

is the process whereby a person is identified by others as possessing a specific characteristic or exhibiting a certain pattern of behavior (such as being deviant).

A) Prophsizing
B) Stigmatizing
C) Stereotyping
D) Labeling

Question 74

A classic form of labeling and the self-fulfilling prophecy occur through the use of tests, which claim to measure a person's inherent intelligence, apart from any family or school influences on the individual.

A) personality
B) emotional
C) developmental
D) IQ

Question 75

In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in that "separate but equal" segregated schools are unconstitutional because they are inherently unequal.

A) Frager v. Board of Education of Houston, Texas
B) Jordan v. Board of Education of Montgomery, Alabama
C) Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
D) Bollinger v. Board of Education of Lansing, Michigan

Question 76

Ethnic and class differences are significant in dropout rates. For example, with a dropout rate of 13 percent, have the highest dropout rate of any racial/ethnic group in U.S. schools.

A) Latinos/as (Hispanics)
B) African Americans
C) Native Americans
D) non-Hispanic whites

Question 77

The term refers to the everyday, secular, or "worldly" aspects of life. Secular beliefs have their foundation in scientific knowledge or everyday explanations.

A) profane
B) anti-spiritual
C) sacred
D) mundane

Question 78

Across cultures and in different eras, many things have been considered , including invisible gods, spirits, specific animals or trees, altars, crosses, holy books, and special words or songs that only the initiated could speak or sing.

A) magical
B) profane
C) spiritual
D) sacred

Question 79

Muslim periodic prayer while bowing toward Mecca and the Christian celebration of communion are examples of events that Geertz and others would term .

A) dogma
B) magic
C) secular ceremonies
D) rituals

Question 80

Sherona is really good at standardized tests and frequently scores very high. She has poor work habits and often turns in her assignments late. Teachers overlook her late assignments because they view her as a "good" student. This is an example of .

A) labeling
B) the hidden curriculum
C) tracking
D) educational dysfunction