Deck 8: Social Stratification

Question 1

The formal ending of apartheid in South Africa has led to

A) the election of the country's first white president.
B) complete social mixing by people of all races.
C) little improvement in the lives of millions of poor, black people.
D) a meritocracy.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In theory, which of the following involves the greatest amount of social mobility?

A) an endogamous system
B) a class system
C) a meritocracy
D) a caste system

Answer 2

C

Question 3

In general, societies that have a caste system have an economy based on

A) postindustrial computer technology.
B) industrial technology.
C) agriculture.
D) hunting and gathering.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

People of low social position are more liberal on ______issues and more conservative on______ issues.

A) economic; social
B) social; economic
C) very few; almost all
D) almost all; almost no

Question 5

If you lived in a society with a traditional caste system, you would expect your marriage to be

A) polygamous.
B) endogamous.
C) basing marriage on romantic love.
D) exogamous.

Question 6

The term "meritocracy" refers to social stratification

A) with no social mobility.
B) in which people "know their place."
C) based entirely on personal merit.
D) as found in the United States.

Question 7

Which of the following terms is NOT a major caste category in India's traditional system of social ranking?

A) Shudra
B) Brahmin
C) Kshatriya
D) Sanskrit

Question 8

Ravi was born into a caste system in a small village in Sri Lanka. He can expect to

A) maintain the same social standing as his parents
B) earn his social position through his own efforts.
C) change his social position several times during his life.
D) choose his life's works for himself after finishing college.

Question 9

According to Marx, differences in wealth and power between the capitalists and proletarians leads to

A) the abolition of work itself.
B) greater wealth for all.
C) class conflict.
D) negotiation and compromise.

Question 10

Max Weber claimed that social position was based on a person's

A) economic class.
B) amount of power.
C) degree of social status or prestige.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 11

In general, societies that have caste systems have economies that are

A) based on hunting and gathering.
B) agrarian.
C) industrial.
D) postindustrial.

Question 12

Roughly 40 to 45 percent of the U.S. population falls within which of the following social class categories?

A) the upper-upper class.
B) the middle class.
C) the lower class.
D) the upper-middle class.

Question 13

"Social stratification" is a concept that refers to

A) differences in people's individual ability.
B) the idea that all people are created equal.
C) society ranking categories of people in a hierarchy.
D) specialization in productive work.

Question 14

Because of social stratification in the United States,

A) all people begin life on a level playing field.
B) working hard is the only way people become wealthy.
C) most families have about the same life chances.
D) some people have more privileges and opportunities than others do.

Question 15

Read the following four statements about social stratification. Which statement is NOT correct?

A) A family's social standing typically changes a great deal from generation to generation.
B) Social stratification involves beliefs about how and why people should be unequal.
C) Social stratification is a trait of society.
D) Social stratification is universal and also variable.

Question 16

A caste system is defined as

A) any social system in which categories of people are unequal.
B) a meritocracy.
C) social stratification based on individual achievement.
D) social stratification based on ascription, or birth.

Question 17

The chapter-opening story of passenger deaths that accompanied the sinking of the ocean liner Titanic shows that

A) social stratification often has little to do with everyday life.
B) social stratification is sometimes a matter of life and death.
C) all people have the same right to life.
D) advancing technology cannot prevent tragedy.

Question 18

Caste systems

A) assign people to certain types of work.
B) require that people marry outside of their own category.
C) encourage social contact between people of different castes.
D) encourage people to strive for upward social mobility.

Question 19

Social stratification is

A) only the result of individual effort.
B) found only in low-income societies.
C) a trait of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences.
D) the same system everywhere.

Question 20

In all societies, kinship plays a part in social stratification because

A) children determine their own social position based on their personal talents and efforts.
B) parents pass their social position on to their children.
C) children usually end up with a social position higher than that of their parents.
D) all children begin life with about the same social standing.

Question 21

The belief that social inequality is fair because social position reflects personal talent and effort is an ideology that is

A) most widely found in classless societies.
B) found equally in all societies.
C) most widely found in caste systems.
D) most widely found in class systems.

Question 22

The sociologist who first described society as "the survival of the fittest" was

A) Karl Marx.
B) Herbert Spencer.
C) Emile Durkheim.
D) Max Weber.

Question 23

Typically, the degree of status consistency is

A) greater the more productive a society is.
B) greater in class systems than in caste systems.
C) the same in all types of social stratification.
D) greater in caste systems than in class systems.

Question 24

The concept "ideology" refers to

A) the fact that social inequality encourages greed in individuals.
B) Plato's belief that stratification is good for society.
C) cultural beliefs that justify social stratification.
D) the study of social inequality.

Question 25

In 1917, the Russian Revolution transformed______ , placing productive property under the control of______ .

A) a class system; the nobility
B) a feudal society; the state
C) an industrial society; the capitalists
D) a caste system; the meritocracy.

Question 26

In the history of France and other European countries, the term "second estate" referred to

A) the clergy.
B) the nobility.
C) commoners.
D) the middle class.

Question 27

According to Davis and Moore, a system of unequal rewards increases productivity by

A) encouraging people to want an important job.
B) motivating people to work longer, harder, or better.
C) encouraging people to gain schooling and skills to perform more important jobs.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 28

The Davis-Moore thesis states that

A) equality is functional for the operation of society.
B) the more inequality a society has, the less incentive people have to look for work.
C) society must attach enough rewards to important jobs to attract the talent needed to perform these jobs well.
D) meritocracy is less productive than a caste system based on birth.

Question 29

The historical replacement of caste systems with class systems

A) means that individuals-but no longer families-are unequal.
B) means that ranked categories of people become more clearly defined.
C) brings an end to most social inequality.
D) replaces one kind of inequality with another.

Question 30

Which of the following concepts refers to the historical practice in England of passing on property to only the first-born male descendant?

A) the law of the estates
B) the law of meritocracy
C) the law of status consistency
D) the law of primogeniture

Question 31

In English history, the hereditary nobility

A) owned most of the land.
B) ran large factories.
C) were born commoners but later became rich.
D) were a majority of the English people.

Question 32

At the top of the system of inequality in the former Soviet Union were the

A) intelligentsia, or educated professionals.
B) industrial capitalists.
C) hereditary nobility.
D) apparatchiks, or high government officials.

Question 33

Half of all the people in Great Britain today consider themselves to be in the

A) lower class.
B) middle class.
C) working class.
D) upper class.

Question 34

Why do class systems retain some caste-like qualities (such as the inheritance of wealth), rather than becoming complete meritocracies?

A) A pure meritocracy would eliminate families and reduce social order.
B) Some caste elements increase social mobility.
C) Too many people would be poor if inequality were based only on merit.
D) Keeping some caste qualities increases a society's productivity.

Question 35

The caste history of the United Kingdom is still evident today in the importance people there attach to

A) accent in speech.
B) money.
C) social mobility.
D) going to college.

Question 36

The concept "meritocracy" refers to social stratification

A) as it is commonly found in agrarian societies.
B) based entirely on personal merit.
C) in which all people "know their place."
D) with no social mobility.

Question 37

A college professor who has advanced degrees, moderate salary, and little power can be described as having

A) horizontal social mobility.
B) high status consistency.
C) low status consistency.
D) downward social mobility.

Question 38

Davis and Moore point out that an egalitarian society

A) could exist, but only if people were willing to let anyone perform any job.
B) could never really exist.
C) has existed in many societies throughout history.
D) would be more productive than a stratified society.

Question 39

Which of the following statements accurately describes the People's Republic of China?

A) A new set of social classes is gradually emerging.
B) There is no longer any social inequality.
C) Social standing reflects only a person's position in the Communist Party.
D) China has the same social stratification that is found in Japan.

Question 40

The concept "structural social mobility" refers to

A) change in the social position of many people due to changes in society itself.
B) change in a family's social position from one generation to the next.
C) cultural beliefs that justify social stratification.
D) change in social position due to people's own efforts.

Question 41

Olga works as a regional manager for a small corporation. Which of the following categories correctly describes her work?

A) blue-collar work
B) grey-collar work
C) red-collar work
D) white-collar work

Question 42

While the Davis and Moore thesis suggests "to each according to the importance of one's work," Karl Marx supported the idea

A) "to each according to his family."
B) "from each according to ability, to each according to need."
C) "each gets, in the end, what is deserved."
D) "to each the same, from each the same."

Question 43

Read the four statements below. Which is NOT a reason given in the text that a socialist revolution never took place in capitalist societies as Marx predicted?

A) Stock places ownership of companies in the hands of tens of millions of people.
B) Living standards have risen over time.
C) There is no longer any concentration of wealth in our society.
D) The law affords workers far greater legal protection.

Question 44

According to Simon Kuznets, the extent of social stratification is greatest in______ societies.

A) industrial
B) agrarian
C) horticultural/pastoral
D) hunting and gathering

Question 45

Max Weber considered an individual's social position to be

A) a matter of only power.
B) a matter of economic class, status, and power.
C) a matter of only economic class.
D) a matter of only status or prestige.

Question 46

Evidence suggests that, as the United States moves into the postindustrial phase of economic development, economic inequality is

A) increasing.
B) holding at about the same level.
C) decreasing.
D) likely to disappear completely.

Question 47

If you have a job that involves manual labor, you are doing

A) white-collar work.
B) service work.
C) farming.
D) blue-collar work.

Question 48

While Marx thought of inequality in terms of two main classes, Weber

A) saw today's societies as one large middle class.
B) considered all people to be more or less equal.
C) thought of inequality in terms of three main classes.
D) described a multidimensional status hierarchy.

Question 49

Max Weber argued that, in agrarian societies, the dimension of social inequality that has the greatest importance is

A) control of information.
B) power.
C) social prestige, or honor.
D) economic class.

Question 50

To impress her friends, Laura wears an expensive dress to a party. A sociologist might suggest she is engaging in

A) status inconsistency.
B) the Davis-Moore thesis.
C) the Kuznets curve.
D) conspicuous consumption. (Applied;

Question 51

Karl Marx believed that socialism would end social stratification by abolishing private property. What was Weber's view?

A) Weber agreed with Marx.
B) Weber warned that socialism would generate a new elite based on government power.
C) Weber thought capitalism could never be changed.
D) Weber thought that, in time, it would be the capitalists who would abolish private property.

Question 52

Read the following statements. Which statement is NOT correct?

A) Since Marx's death, economic inequality remains pronounced in the United States.
B) Since Marx's death, more U.S. workers have unions to represent them.
C) Workers today benefit from workplace safety and minimum wage laws that did not exist in Marx's lifetime.
D) Since Marx's death, living standards in the United States have risen.

Question 53

Most of today's labor force is involved in

A) white-collar work.
B) blue-collar work.
C) industrial factory work.
D) manual labor.

Question 54

A fair criticism of the Davis-Moore thesis is the fact that

A) low-paid people have always done the most difficult jobs.
B) it is not so easy to assess the social importance of various jobs.
C) many societies in world history have had no inequality.
D) most people believe that all jobs have the same importance.

Question 55

The lowest-earning 20 percent of all U.S. families receive ______of all income.

A) 4.0 percent
B) 15.5 percent
C) 23.1 percent
D) 47.8 percent

Question 56

______refers to the total value of all assets, less any debts owed.

A) Income
B) Personal property
C) Power
D) Wealth

Question 57

According to Karl Marx, differences in wealth and power between the capitalists and proletarians leads to

A) the abolition of work itself.
B) greater wealth for all.
C) class conflict.
D) negotiation and compromise.

Question 58

According to the U.S. government, the median family income in 2008 was

A) $79,302.
B) $61,521.
C) $40,435.
D) $30,607.

Question 59

Following Karl Marx's analysis, we would expect to find alienation among which category of people?

A) the working people, or proletariat
B) government officials
C) the nobility
D) the rich factory owners

Question 60

Looking around the world today, income inequality is greatest in

A) China.
B) western Europe.
C) Latin America.
D) North America.

Question 61

Being in the upper-upper class is usually the result of______ ; being in the lower-upper class is more a matter of______ .

A) business success; birth
B) gender; birth
C) high income; low-income
D) birth; achievement

Question 62

In general, which category of people stands out as having a strong sense of family history?

A) the "old rich" or upper-upper class
B) the middle class
C) the working class
D) the lower class

Question 63

What share of the richest people in the United States gained their fortunes mostly from inheritance?

A) only one-in-ten
B) about one-in-one hundred
C) about nine-in-ten
D) more than one-third

Question 64

How is income linked to the likelihood that people vote in presidential elections?

A) There is no clear link; people of all income levels are equally likely to vote.
B) "Self-made" people are more likely to vote than those who inherit wealth.
C) The higher the income, the greater the share of people who vote.
D) The lower the income, the greater the share of people who vote.

Question 65

Working class people might also be described as

A) lower-middle class.
B) lower-upper class.
C) lower class.
D) upper-middle class.

Question 66

The wealthiest 1 percent of U.S. families (the "super-rich") control about ______of the nation's privately held wealth.

A) 80 percent
B) 60 percent
C) 35 percent
D) 20 percent

Question 67

Following the analysis of Karl Marx, which class forms the core of the industrial proletariat?

A) the middle class
B) the upper-middle class
C) the working class
D) the upper class

Question 68

As of 2009 in the United States, about ______of adults over the age of twenty-five were college graduates.

A) 70 percent
B) 50 percent
C) 30 percent
D) 3 percent

Question 69

In the United States, the typical Hispanic American family earns about ______of the income typical of non-Hispanic white families.

A) 98 percent
B) 78 percent
C) 58 percent
D) 38 percent

Question 70

The lowest-ranking 40 percent of U.S. families have

A) no wealth at all.
B) 10 percent of all privately held wealth.
C) 20 percent of all privately held wealth.
D) 30 percent of all privately held wealth.

Question 71

Based on what you know about occupational prestige, which of the following statements is NOT correct?

A) Most of the highest-ranked occupations in the United States are dominated by women.
B) Occupational prestige rankings are much the same in all high-income nations.
C) Most high-prestige occupations require extensive education and training.
D) Occupations are a source of both prestige and income.

Question 72

About ______of the U.S. population is officially counted by the government as poor.

A) 33.2 percent
B) 23.2 percent
C) 13.2 percent
D) 3.2 percent

Question 73

In the United States, the median income for African American families is about______ as much as that for a non-Hispanic, white family.

A) 36 percent
B) 57 percent
C) 76 percent
D) 96 percent

Question 74

Popular author J. K. Rowling, who was once poor, has earned a fortune with her Harry Potter books. Rowling is a member of the

A) upper-upper class.
B) lower-upper class.
C) upper-middle class.
D) middle class.

Question 75

In general, people in the______ tend to be less tolerant of controversial behavior such as homosexuality.

A) upper-upper class
B) lower-upper class
C) upper-middle class
D) working class

Question 76

Compared to the upper class, the middle class in the United States contains

A) people with higher incomes.
B) far more racial and ethnic diversity.
C) more single people and many fewer families.
D) far more women.

Question 77

Gena and her husband Mark are married and have a low social position. We would expect them

A) to engage in somewhat different, gender-based everyday activities.
B) to encourage their children to challenge authority figures.
C) to reject traditional gender roles.
D) to be very personally intimate with one another.

Question 78

The wealthiest 5 percent of U.S. families (the "very rich") control about______ of the nation's privately held wealth.

A) 22 percent
B) 32 percent
C) 42 percent
D) 62 percent

Question 79

Today, the total wealth of the typical U.S. family is about

A) $301,300.
B) $120,300.
C) $51,300.
D) $19,300.

Question 80

In the United States, the wealthiest 20 percent of families own about______ of the country's privately owned wealth.

A) 25 percent
B) 55 percent
C) 85 percent
D) 99 percent