Deck 2: Culture

Question 1

All of the following are reasons Tibetans practice "sky burials" EXCEPT:

A) Tibetans don't value human life as much as other cultures do.
B) weather and soil conditions make traditional burial and cremation difficult.
C) Tibetans believe in compassion for all creatures.
D) Tibetans believe the body serves no purpose once the soul has left it.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

_______ is a population that shares the same territory and is bound together by economic and political ties.

A) A culture
B) A society
C) An aggregate
D) A network

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Culture is defined as:

A) all of the physical artifacts produced and used by a society.
B) the total way of life shared by members of a society.
C) the standards of desirability shared by members of a society.
D) the unique values, interests, and lifestyles of the elite members of society.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The term for the attitudes and knowledge that bring power and status to members of the upper class is:

A) cultural norms.
B) status symbols.
C) cultural capital.
D) materialism.

Question 5

When Americans traveling abroad say that they really "find these people really awful," they are:

A) being ethnocentric.
B) expressing cultural relativism.
C) identifying with a counterculture.
D) expressing a wish for more cultural variability.

Question 6

Americans are shaped by their shared value of individualism and independence.This is a claim that pertains most strongly to the _________ perspective.

A) structural-functionalist
B) conflict theory
C) symbolic interactionist
D) cultural materialism

Question 7

The theoretical approach that wonders why one culture develops differently from another and who benefits from cultural patterns is:

A) conflict theory.
B) biological determinism.
C) symbolic interactionist.
D) structural-functionalist.

Question 8

Choosing a fine French wine,using multiple utensils for a five-course meal,and having contacts among the elite are all examples of:

A) popular culture.
B) popular cultural norms.
C) local knowledge.
D) cultural capital.

Question 9

Refrigerators,ovens,coffee pots,and stereos are all examples of what sociologists call:

A) material culture.
B) nonmaterial culture.
C) High-status culture.
D) cultural necessities.

Question 10

When sociologists say that culture is problem solving,they mean that:

A) culture is created through conflict.
B) if a society is cultured, there will be no crime or deviance.
C) culture provides a standard pattern for dealing with common dilemmas.
D) eventually, we will solve all human problems.

Question 11

Janice is learning about the practice of polygamy.While she would not like to be in a polygamist relationship herself,she understands why the system works in some cultures.Janice's analysis is an example of:

A) ethnocentrism.
B) cultural diffusion.
C) normative adaptation.
D) cultural relativity.

Question 12

Which of the following concepts refers to the total way of life shared by members of a society?

A) values
B) norms
C) culture
D) cultural universals

Question 13

Structural functionalists and conflict theorists agree that:

A) some people benefit from culture more than others.
B) culture is manipulated by the elite for their own advantage.
C) culture serves everyone equally.
D) culture provides ready-made solutions to the problems of everyday life.

Question 14

?Within sociology,there are several different approaches to the study of culture.The _________ approach is more interested in how culture shapes individuals than in how economies shape culture.

A) structural-functionalist
B) conflict
C) biological
D) conservative

Question 15

Which theoretical approach would be most likely to examine the competing perspectives of multiculturalism and assimilation?

A) structural-functionalist
B) conflict theory
C) symbolic interactionist
D) feminist

Question 16

_________ focuses on the meanings that people find in culture and how those meanings are created.

A) Conflict theory
B) Structural-functionalism
C) Symbolic interactionism
D) Cultural materialism

Question 17

All of the following are examples of nonmaterial culture EXCEPT:

A) a belief in atheism.
B) a belief in God.
C) the commandment "thou shalt not kill."
D) a religious cross.

Question 18

The text argues that _________ help to explain what is common to humankind across societies,but _________ explains why people and societies differ from one another.

A) cultural universals; genetics
B) biological factors; culture
C) social structures; biology
D) technological advances; cultural universals

Question 19

The requirement that each cultural trait be evaluated in the context of its own culture is known as:

A) ethnocentrism.
B) cultural diffusion.
C) normative adaptation.
D) cultural relativity.

Question 20

Which theoretical perspective is most likely to examine the meanings that ethnic foods have for the groups that consume them?

A) structural-functionalist
B) conflict theory
C) symbolic interactionist
D) feminist

Question 21

Which of the following terms is used for shared ideas about desirable goals in a culture,such as good health,stability,and security?

A) norms
B) values
C) wants
D) folkways

Question 22

Sociologists say that culture is a social product.What does this mean?

A) Cultural diversity is not the product of isolated gene pools, but is learned and changed through social interaction.
B) Culture is a material commodity shared by all members of a society.
C) Culture is determined by biological instincts.
D) Culture cannot be understood or known by any individual. It can only be experienced collectively.

Question 23

The transmission of culture from one person or generation to the next is dependent upon:

A) a large brain.
B) natural human instincts.
C) the human capacity for creating and using technology.
D) the human capacity for language.

Question 24

Biological explanations are most likely to be accepted for behavioral patterns that are:

A) highly specialized.
B) different in each culture.
C) deviant and subversive.
D) universal.

Question 25

_________ assumes that some human social behavior,such as altruism,has evolved as a genetic adaptation.

A) Cultural relativity
B) Sociobiology
C) Social science in general
D) Sociology

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT a universal value?

A) individualism
B) stability and security
C) strong family
D) good health

Question 27

Your text concludes that ethnocentrism:

A) weakens social control.
B) is essential for cultural exchange.
C) is a bridge between different cultures when they come into contact.
D) is a natural and in some ways desirable product of growing up in a culture.

Question 28

The tendency to view the norms and values of one's culture as absolute and use them as a standard against which to judge the practices of other cultures is known as:

A) cultural relativity.
B) cultural objectivity.
C) ethnocentrism.
D) practical assessment.

Question 29

According to ________,the grammar,structure,and categories embodied in each language affect how its speakers see reality.

A) the linguistic relativity hypothesis
B) the carrier of culture hypothesis
C) the reality thesis
D) the symbolic interaction perspective

Question 30

Why would it be important for members of immigrant groups to teach their children their native language?

A) Language is the source of shared meanings and culture.
B) Without their native language, they will have no identity.
C) This will make it easier for them to find employment.
D) This will teach them the proper discipline and respect.

Question 31

?According to _________,a change in a species occurs primarily because some individuals are more successful than others at reproducing.Thus,the species comes to be characterized by the traits that mark successful reproducers.

A) conflict theorists
B) structural functionalists
C) symbolic interactionists
D) sociobiologists

Question 32

Which of the following statements does NOT reflect the relationship between language and culture?

A) Language is a carrier of culture.
B) Our thinking and perceptions are shaped by our linguistic capacities.
C) Language is symbolic.
D) Language inhibits cultural adaptation.

Question 33

Norms are defined as the:

A) total way of life shared by members of a society.
B) shared ideas about desirable goals in a society.
C) shared rules about how people ought to think and act.
D) actual behavior of members of a group.

Question 34

According to sociobiologists,which of the following characteristics is related to successful reproduction?

A) altruism toward all members of the society
B) altruism toward kin
C) larger bone structure
D) men with a higher sperm count

Question 35

Which of the following values are practically universal?

A) strong family and good health
B) material wealth and long life
C) youthfulness and status
D) material wealth and competition

Question 36

Which of these statements about ethnocentrism is FALSE?

A) Ethnocentrism can create a barrier to interaction between people from different cultures.
B) Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view the norms and values of one's culture as absolute.
C) Ethnocentrism is always something negative.
D) Ethnocentrism is essential for social integration.

Question 37

Having a happy and satisfying marriage is a value of American culture.Values are defined by the text as:

A) shared ideas of what is a desirable goal.
B) shared rules of conduct that specify how people ought to think and act.
C) the normal, customary, and habitual ways of doing things.
D) strong ideas of what is morally right or wrong, enforced by the police powers of the state.

Question 38

The phrase "language is a framework of culture" implies that language:

A) limits the technological and creative potential of a culture.
B) allows the transmission of culture from one person to the next.
C) is forever changing and adapting to the evolving culture.
D) symbolizes culture and shapes the way in which culture develops.

Question 39

According to your text,the "carriers of culture" are:

A) family, government, and religion.
B) technology, environment, and population.
C) biological, social, and cultural evolution.
D) language, values, and norms.

Question 40

Sociobiology is defined in your text as the:

A) systematic study of human social interaction.
B) study of the biological basis of all forms of human behavior.
C) study of biological adaptations to social environments.
D) study of social evolution as influenced by biology.

Question 41

Groups that share in the overall culture of society but maintain their own distinctive values,norms,and lifestyles are called:

A) deviant subgroups.
B) subcultures.
C) countercultures.
D) supercultures.

Question 42

Betty has just taken a position with a different corporation.She is quite frustrated because workers in her new office have a different approach than what she is used to.Her co-workers use terms that she has not heard before and have their own ways of dividing the work and covering for each other.Betty is reacting to:

A) a subculture.
B) cultural diffusion.
C) a counterculture.
D) changing mores.

Question 43

Which of the following would NOT be considered a folkway of American culture?

A) not eating with your mouth full
B) white wedding dresses
C) thank-you notes
D) monogamy

Question 44

In American society,the commandment "thou shalt not commit adultery" belongs to which category?

A) folkways
B) mores
C) cultural universals
D) values

Question 45

Sanctions:

A) are always punishments for violating norms.
B) are always rewards for adhering to norms.
C) may be either rewards or punishments.
D) are only used for violations of formal social control

Question 46

Norms for which strong ideas of right or wrong have developed are called:

A) laws.
B) folkways.
C) moral customs.
D) mores.

Question 47

Norms that are simply the customary,normal,and habitual ways a group does things are known as:

A) mores.
B) laws.
C) customs.
D) folkways.

Question 48

John has noticed that his boss smiles and is pleased when John gets to work at the office a bit early or stays a bit late.John is being influenced by:

A) values.
B) informal sanctions.
C) formal sanctions.
D) mores.

Question 49

Which of the following is true regarding the relationship between norms and the law?

A) All norms are supported by law.
B) Not all norms are supported by law and not all laws are supported by norms.
C) All laws are supported by general norms.
D) Formal laws are established and enforced only when they have the backing of informal sanctions.

Question 50

What is the text's general conclusion about norms?

A) Norms are a good guide to people's actual behavior.
B) Norms are not related to behavior.
C) There is no relationship between norms and values.
D) Norms are not a good guide to people's actual behavior.

Question 51

A group of people who reside in the United States do not agree with the American values of material success,patriarchy,and marriage.They have chosen to isolate themselves from mainstream society by forming a commune where women and men are equal and marriage is forbidden.This group would be considered a:

A) subculture.
B) type of organized crime mob.
C) sub-group.
D) counterculture.

Question 52

Alex did not bathe or use deodorant for one week.His classmates refused to sit by him and sent him a bar of soap anonymously.Alex violated a:

A) cultural universal.
B) law.
C) folkway.
D) value.

Question 53

A subculture is:

A) a group that has values, interests, beliefs, and lifestyles that are opposed to those of the larger society.
B) a group that shares the overall culture of mainstream society but maintains its own distinctive values, norms, and lifestyles.
C) a population that shares the same territory and is bound together by economic and political ties.
D) a group of people with similar physical characteristics.

Question 54

Sanctions refer to:

A) lifestyles that oppose those of the larger culture.
B) rewards for conformity and punishments for nonconformity.
C) the forms of interaction through which people relate to one another.
D) the expectation that people will return favors when they are obligated to do so.

Question 55

Research indicates that half of all married men and women in our society have committed adultery.This example shows that:

A) normative behavior always reflects actual behavior.
B) many norms are unimportant.
C) our mores regarding marital fidelity are very powerful.
D) norms are not always a good guide to what people actually do.

Question 56

Norms or rules that are officially enforced and sanctioned by society are known as:

A) folkways.
B) mores.
C) laws.
D) requirements.

Question 57

The discrepancy between cultural norms and people's actual behavior is called:

A) sanctioning.
B) mores.
C) deviance.
D) folkways.

Question 58

Professor Mitchell allows her students the opportunity to "skip" the final exam if they have earned an A on all their coursework and have no absences at the end of the semester.This is a type of:

A) sanction.
B) folkway.
C) mos (singular of mores).
D) law.

Question 59

Which of the following expectations is an example of a dysfunctional norm?

A) Real estate is a good investment.
B) Everyone should buy a big house.
C) People should not divorce.
D) Hard work will pay off.

Question 60

Groups that have values,interests,beliefs,and lifestyles that are opposed to those of the larger society are called:

A) deviant subgroups.
B) countercultures.
C) disloyal antagonists.
D) subcultures.

Question 61

High culture refers to:

A) a culture's ideas about its own past.
B) a culture's views about religion.
C) cultural preferences associated with persons of high social status.
D) a group who has power or influence over another.

Question 62

Cultural diffusion occurs most rapidly when:

A) the new ideas and inventions come from the United States.
B) new values and tools meet basic needs and are consistent with existing culture.
C) the culture uses English as its language of choice.
D) pre-existing relative deprivation is high.

Question 63

All of the following are ways the proximity to the sea has impacted Dutch culture EXCEPT:

A) leading to mass emigration.
B) contributing to cultural values of tolerance, consensus, and mutual support.
C) impacting which industries have flourished there.
D) influencing the hobbies and sports that are popular there.

Question 64

The image of the United States as a "salad bowl" rather than a "melting pot" has been used to illustrate the concept of:

A) ethnocentrism.
B) multiculturalism.
C) acculturation.
D) cultural relativism.

Question 65

Which of the following was NOT included in your text as a major factor accounting for cultural diversity?

A) isolation
B) environmental differences
C) technological differences
D) political structures

Question 66

In many cases,cochlear implants have not enabled deaf children to hear and understand,but have only confused them with new,unintelligible sounds.Given that implants are not very successful,deaf activists have criticized the medical practice of surgically inserting cochlear implants as:

A) a neutral medical technology.
B) multiculturalism on the part of the "hearing" culture.
C) ethnocentrism on the part of the "hearing" culture.
D) a form of cultural relativity.

Question 67

Studies of the deaf show that:

A) nearly all deaf people would join the "hearing" culture if they had a choice.
B) many deaf people would not join the "hearing" culture if they had a choice.
C) deaf people view themselves as having a serious disability.
D) most deaf people are excited about the new cochlear implant options available to deaf babies.

Question 68

A counterculture is:

A) a group that has values, interests, beliefs, and lifestyles that are opposed to those of the larger society.
B) a group that shares the overall culture of mainstream society but maintains its own distinctive values, norms, and lifestyles.
C) a population that shares the same territory and is bound together by economic and political ties.
D) a group of people with similar physical characteristics.

Question 69

Which of the following would likely be included in the category of high culture?

A) heavy metal music
B) murals painted on the side of buildings
C) stock car racing
D) opera and ballet

Question 70

Which of the following has NOT changed due to technology?

A) attitudes toward privacy
B) access to privacy
C) access to social relationships
D) attitudes toward relationships

Question 71

For many deaf people,using American Sign Language creates a shared identity and unique forms of expression.For these people,being deaf would be considered a:

A) disability.
B) culture.
C) society.
D) linguistic novelty.

Question 72

According to the study by Melissa Milkie on how young women interpret images of women in beauty magazines:

A) white teens were more likely than African American teens to believe the images of female beauty in magazines were unrealistic.
B) African American teens were more likely than white teens to believe the images of female beauty in magazines were unrealistic.
C) the self-concept of the African American teens was less negatively affected by the magazine images than the self-concept of the white teens.
D) the self-concept of the white teens was less negatively affected by the magazine images than the self-concept of the African American teens.

Question 73

Salsa sales in the United States have surpassed ketchup sales.This is the result of:

A) assimilation.
B) cultural diffusion.
C) technology.
D) ethnocentrism.

Question 74

The term for the belief that cultural differences should be preserved and appreciated is:

A) multiculturalism.
B) assimilation.
C) countercultures.
D) cultural diffusion.

Question 75

At the broadest level,cultural elements spread around the world.This is called:

A) globalization of culture.
B) assimilation
C) xenophobia.
D) cultural lag.

Question 76

Many scholars believe unrealistic media images:

A) contribute to higher levels of self-esteem among girls.
B) contribute to higher levels of eating disorders among women and girls.
C) have not had an effect on young women.
D) have no effect on boys and men.

Question 77

Until fairly recently,many people believed that ethnic and religious subcultures should learn and adopt the ways of the dominant group.Such people were advocating:

A) multiculturalism.
B) assimilation.
C) countercultures.
D) cultural diffusion.

Question 78

The process by which aspects of one culture or subculture enter and are incorporated into another is referred to as:

A) acculturation.
B) cultural isolation.
C) cultural diffusion.
D) technological advance.

Question 79

People who advocate for the use of cochlear implants for deaf children are taking the perspective of:

A) cultural relativity.
B) assimilation.
C) multiculturalism.
D) cultural diversity.

Question 80

Maria has recently moved to the United States from Columbia.Her children no longer speak Spanish and are learning to live like American children.Maria's children are experiencing:

A) multiculturalism.
B) ethnocentrism.
C) cultural relativism.
D) assimilation.