Deck 9: Public Opinion and the Media

Question 1

People who live in segregated neighborhoods may vote differently when racial matters are at issue because they:

A) universally have a perception of a "linked fate."
B) tend to have differing economic interests and life experiences.
C) usually move to segregated neighborhoods due to prejudice and stronger racial identification.
D) have stronger identification with their own racial or ethnic group, and more prejudice against people of other groups.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Public assessments of elected officials, attitudes toward political organizations and social groups, and preferences about whether and how government ought to address important problems can all be classified under the heading of __________.

A) civic culture
B) public opinion
C) socialization
D) grassroots expression

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The 2016 election saw pronounced differences between rural and urban voters, with the latter strongly favoring Clinton, and the former overwhelmingly favoring Trump.Well into 2018, polls showed rural voters favoring Trump by 10 points more on average than urban and suburban voters.Some analysts, in response, pointed to cultural differences between these voters as a reason for the split, while others pointed to economic decline in rural America as a more pointed explanation.Does this fit with past explanations for a rural-urban split in public opinion?

A) Yes, economic self-interest and cultural differences were previously seen as explanations for the split.
B) No, in the past, only a stronger support for agricultural subsidies was seen as the reason for rural differences.
C) No, in the past, most wealthier city and suburban voters still voted more Republican, while rural voters tended to be more Democratic.
D) No, residential segregation was said to be more behind rural differences in years past.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In American politics, persons who seek to expand liberty above all other principles, as well as to minimize government intervention in the economy and society, are called:

A) modern liberals.
B) economically conservative, but socially liberal.
C) libertarians.
D) traditional conservatives.

Question 5

An all-encompassing means of understanding the world or society, one through which an individual can filter all new political information and situations, is best described as:

A) a basic value system.
B) partisan identification.
C) an ideology.
D) a set of preferences.

Question 6

The chief vehicle through which liberals have advanced their policy ideas in recent times has been:

A) social media.
B) academic research.
C) policy research institutions, often called "think tanks."
D) public interest groups.

Question 7

The process through which underlying beliefs and values are formed is collectively called political:

A) maturation.
B) character shaping.
C) socialization.
D) attitude development.

Question 8

What appears to be behind differences in the way women and men vote in the United States?

A) Concern about abortion rights
B) Concern about children's issues
C) Differences in wages, life experience, and Democratic outreach to women
D) Concern about abortion rights, birth control, and differences in wages

Question 9

Individuals' preferences about politics and public policy are usually most rooted in:

A) geographic location.
B) self-interest, including but not limited to economic self-interest.
C) religious values.
D) ideology.

Question 10

Conservative policy ideas have, in recent years, been developed with the notable backing and assistance of:

A) grassroots organizations, with thousands of volunteers who put time and effort into a conservative movement.
B) millions of dollars from corporations and business organizations, and conservative policy research institutes they have supported.
C) the Republican Party, including the national organization and affiliated congressional leaders.
D) talk radio and Internet blogs.

Question 11

Amy, an international relations professor at a small state college in the western United States, now reaches a small, but well-educated and influential group of Internet users with a blog focused on the importance of human rights, education, and economic growth worldwide.By contrast, an individual known only by the pseudonym of JFK Ultra produces conspiracy theory videos that have won a huge, global audience.The videos have a populist bent, with their attacks on a "New World Order" and the global economy. What might the creators of this content have in common, despite what would appear to be wildly different political views?

A) Their content is likely to be distributed or hosted by one or two of a handful of big media companies, thanks to media consolidation.
B) They are both certain to be targeted by federal officials for censorship, under the Patriot Act.
C) They are apparently not involved in the hotter Internet worlds of social media and podcasting.
D) They show how the Internet has allowed nontraditional and new forms of media to thrive, and given a say to individuals outside of traditional media.

Question 12

The term for the sum of many citizens' views and interests is:

A) civic attention.
C) popular culture.
B) public opinion.
D) community spirit.

Question 13

That lawmakers often end up passing what the public seems to support, at least as shown through surveys, does not necessarily mean that the will of the people consistently influences what Congress does.This is because:

A) lawmakers are more influenced by campaign contributions from interest groups and wealthy individuals.
B) most citizens do not have strong policy preferences and lack knowledge about issues or government.
C) elected officials consistently manipulate Americans into supporting policies that they and other national elites support.
D) media and survey firms often manipulate opinion polling results through question wording and survey design.

Question 14

A common refrain of American politicians in recent times-most notably among them former President George W.Bush-is that the only polls that matter are elections.Much like Bush, however, elected officials-especially ones working at the national level-nonetheless relied on public opinion surveys in carrying out their work.Why might this be the case?

A) Elected officials have little contact with constituents, so they have no way of judging what constituents' opinions are outside of opinion polls.
B) The outcome of elections is never easy to interpret, except in landslide elections.
C) They want to anticipate the effects of their decisions, develop ways to minimize objections to them, and to identify opportunities to change opinions.
D) They know that voters would frown upon their use of polling in developing means of manipulating public opinion.

Question 15

Over the past decade, the newspaper business has been dramatically hurt by the popularity of the Internet because:

A) the popularity of new online venues for advertising, including help wanted, real estate, and retail ads, cuts into newspapers' revenues.
B) claims of liberal bias led advertisers to look elsewhere for marketing and promotion of goods and services.
C) the print media did not in any way respond to the popularity of social media,
D) newspapers declined to make their online content free, until it was too late.

Question 16

In response to Americans' heavy and increasing use of the Internet, traditional media such as newspapers, television, and radio have:

A) fallen by the wayside, with universally dwindling audiences and dramatically falling profits.
B) moved much of their content online, often providing it for free.
C) lost their influence, even with politically interested and well-educated Americans.
D) failed to take advantage of social media, including Twitter, and thus lost ground with younger and more plugged-in audiences.

Question 17

More so than people with other ideologies, liberals have relied on public interest groups to advance their policy ideas, at least in the past few decades.What makes these organizations distinctive is:

A) that they rely heavily on voluntary contributions of time and effort from their members.
B) that most are funded by major foundations, or a select number of wealthy individuals.
C) that they are far better at getting their messages out to the media than other groups.
D) their unusually strong and lasting ties to the Democratic Party.

Question 18

During the 2016 election, national media gave Donald Trump extensive attention for a press conference in which he promoted his own branded steaks and bottled water, as well as one of his golf courses.This is an example of how:

A) the media unquestionably provide an agenda-setting role.
B) television news rarely covers politics in much depth.
C) the equal time rule still affects news coverage, by forcing broadcast media to cover such affairs.
D) even political coverage is now often "soft news," or news with more entertainment value than substance.

Question 19

Typically, political ideas are best marketed by organizations that have:

A) loyal members who will put in much time and effort in volunteer work.
B) great marketing directors, with a firm understanding of modern media, including social media.
C) access to financial resources and institutional support.
D) strong ties to major elected officials and political party leaders.

Question 20

Radio talk shows, some with huge audiences, have become important sources of commentary and opinion, while helping:

A) develop the details of public policies for conservative groups and politicians.
B) mobilize support for conservative political causes and candidates.
C) Republican Party organizations in a direct, or contractual, but secret, fashion.
D) the Republican Party engage with and attract younger people who find traditional media untrustworthy.

Question 21

African Americans in the Black Lives Matter protests of the police killings of young black men as well as feminist efforts to bring attention to sexual misconduct in the workplace are often, at least in the popular media, described as examples of identity politics at work.The term, however, as used by political scientists more broadly refers to:

A) any group identity that can shape political behavior.
B) racial or ethnic and gender identity, as mixed with partisan identity.
C) political attitudes, as they mix with racial or ethnic and gender identities.
D) zero-sum games among racial and ethnic groups, as well as between men and women.

Question 22

Which of the following is an example of someone who is descriptively represented?

A) A Mexican American who lives in a city with an African American mayor
B) A Native American who has a white congressional representative who claims distant Navajo heritage
C) A Korean American male who is represented by an all-white city council
D) An Asian American whose state legislative district is represented by an Asian American

Question 23

More than any other single news source, Americans get their news from:

A) radio.
B) television.
C) the Internet.
D) newspapers.

Question 24

As recently as the nineteenth century, a liberal was thought of as a person favoring:

A) freedom from state control.
B) elite control of society and government.
C) rule by white, property-holding men only.
D) limited expansion of civil liberties and rights.

Question 25

Why do people take political cues from others rather than study the issues themselves?

A) Most people lack the ability to understand most political issues.
B) Shortcuts help people make good decisions while relieving them of the need to gather their own information.
C) They feel compelled to vote like their peers.
D) They want to reward their superiors by supporting their political goals.

Question 26

In today's terms, someone who generally supports extensive government intervention in the economy, along with greater protections for consumers and the environment, is known as a:

A) liberal.
B) communist.
C) populist.
D) libertarian.

Question 27

Which of the following identities is associated with residents who strongly identify with the South?

A) Latino identity
B) Black identity
C) Religious identity
D) Geographic identity

Question 28

The contemporary political ideology that is generally supportive of political and social reform, extensive governmental intervention in the economy, expansion of federal social services, more vigorous efforts on behalf of the poor and the disadvantaged, and greater concern for consumers and the environment is most accurately characterized as:

A) liberal.
B) a mix of liberal and conservative.
C) socialist.
D) libertarian.

Question 29

The distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between men and women is most often termed the:

A) gender gap.
B) masculine rift.
C) sexual revolution.
D) male-female divide.

Question 30

A person's distinctive characteristics or group associations, like race or gender, that reflect their social connections with others or common values and interests, are called:

A) political variables.
B) psychological attachments.
C) community markers.
D) political identities.

Question 31

Americans who do not take the time to learn about government, or about policy issues, in any depth are more likely to lean on ______________ than anything else to help them make political decisions.

A) politicians' social media posts and brief news reports
B) shortcuts, party labels, and stereotypes
C) Internet searches
D) similarly inattentive family members

Question 32

The Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, incorporated some elements that came from conservative-leaning research organizations, with most notable among them being its individual insurance mandate.Even so, it was in many ways emblematic of post-New Deal _____________ proposals, in that it expanded governmental intervention in the economy, while providing insurance subsidies and expanding Medicaid coverage for lower-income people.

A) ideological
B) socialist
C) liberal
D) centrist

Question 33

In international affairs, conservatism has come to mean support for:

A) arms control, especially regarding the nuclear programs of autocratic rulers.
B) maintaining American military power.
C) cultural intervention across the globe.
D) regime change in all autocratic countries, including longtime allies.

Question 34

Generally speaking, radio news is essentially a:

A) forum for editorializing.
B) good source for in-depth news analyses and coverage.
C) headline service without pictures.
D) mirror reflection of coverage in weekly news magazines.

Question 35

While candidate Donald Trump ran for the office as a Republican, he espoused some views that went against the party's usual support for free trade.Most notably, Trump criticized international free trade agreements.As president, he called for tariffs, even on some close U.S.allies, including Canada and countries of the European Union. As unusual as they may have seemed, however, Trump's stances here fit with a strain of conservatism that has its roots in:

A) some mix of liberalism and conservatism, as is typical in American politics.
B) support for the social and economic status quo, which had dramatically shifted during the Obama years.
C) skepticism about international organizations in foreign affairs.
D) populism, which generally is isolationist in international affairs.

Question 36

After the election of John F.Kennedy in 1961, there was a growing preference for the Democratic Party among Catholics.Which of the following was responsible for shaping this relationship?

A) Liberal ideology on social issues of importance to Catholics
B) Ethnic identity (Irish American, in this case)
C) Kennedy's conservative stance on abortion
D) Religious identity

Question 37

If a constituent and an elected official share the same racial and ethnic characteristics, their relationship includes the bond of:

A) socialization.
B) political party.
C) social group.
D) descriptive representation.

Question 38

Hispanic or Latinos' political opinions and attitudes tend to be distinctive from those of non-Hispanic whites, with most Hispanic and Latino Americans being notably opposed to:

A) liberal abortion laws.
B) restrictive immigration policies.
C) Communism and authoritarian governments.
D) the Affordable Care Act.

Question 39

In social and cultural areas, liberals generally support:

A) tax cuts.
B) school prayer.
C) abortion rights.
D) strict enforcement of moral standards.

Question 40

The contemporary political ideology that is generally supportive of maintaining social and cultural traditions, limiting the role of government in economic life, and ensuring a strong military defense is most accurately classified as:

A) isolationist.
B) conservative.
C) populist.
D) libertarian.

Question 41

With the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the first significant overhaul of federal communications in over six decades, its supporters suggested that it would allow anyone to go into the communications business, increasing competition at the dawn of a new, Internet-driven information age.Ironically, however, one of its most notable effects was:

A) hampering independent content and service provider growth by requiring a long and costly licensing process.
B) leading cable television to dominate the media landscape for another two decades.
C) an increase in the concentration of media ownership, through the encouragement of cable and telephone company mergers, and other media consolidation moves.
D) slowing average Internet speeds in the United States, as compared to average speeds in most Western European or Asian Pacific nations.

Question 42

Over the past decade, an increasing number of states have legalized marijuana within their jurisdictions.Many did so for medical use only, while others, starting with Colorado, went further by approving recreational use.Either way, most states enacted legalization not through their representatives, but processes in which policy proposals are put directly before voters.These ballot measures are referred to as _______________.

A) secondary measures
B) initiatives and referendums
C) nontraditional legislating
D) deliberative polling

Question 43

While the American news media may not intend to tell people what to think about a given politician, elected official, or public policy issue, it can nonetheless have an agenda-setting effect through ________________.

A) priming, or its choice of what stories, subjects, or issues it focuses upon
B) subliminal messaging
C) shutting out competition via lobbying for restrictive communications rules
D) the effects of federal communications regulation

Question 44

American radio and television are regulated by an independent regulatory agency established in 1934 called the:

A) Public Broadcasting Corporation.
B) National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
C) National Public Regulation Authority (NPR).
D) Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Question 45

Expressions of public opinion are easy to interpret.

Question 46

Americans have a consensus around the idea that, whenever possible, elected public officials should be chosen by majority vote.

Question 47

Timeliness was previously seen as a strong suit of broadcast media, with in-depth coverage and analysis the strong suit of newspapers and magazines.Today, however, traditional media operations, as well as younger competitors, often combine those strengths through:

A) social media storytelling.
B) urgent radio broadcasts.
C) breaking news content offered through the Internet, including coverage and analysis provided on their websites.
D) special, Internet-only multimedia projects and podcasts.

Question 48

Citizens in the United States have only a narrow set of means to express their opinions.

Question 49

Identities are both psychological and sociological.

Question 50

The great principle underlying the federal government's relationship with the press is the prohibition against prior restraint, meaning that federal officials cannot:

A) arrest journalists, under any circumstances, while they are doing their work.
B) write pointed, angry letters to newspaper or broadcast editors to complain about news coverage.
C) censor or block publication or broadcast of news reports.
D) warn news operations that their access to key policymakers will be removed if they print or broadcast unflattering stories.

Question 51

Often individuals will consciously or unconsciously adapt their views to those of the groups with which they identify.

Question 52

If the federal government allowed issues, including controversial ones such as gun control measures, to be decided by the public in national referendums, inconsistencies between public opinion and public policy could well be reduced.What does the congressional lawmaking process allow, however, that legislating through direct democracy would not?

A) Media coverage
B) More consistent popularity of state and federal budgeting decisions
C) Encouragement of citizen participation
D) Reflection and compromise

Question 53

When media reporting affects the way people perceive a certain issue or matter-such as the perception of crime through an intense focus on news about violent crime-it can be said to have had ______________.

A) an agenda-setting impact
B) a priming effect
C) a framing effect
D) a flagrant bias

Question 54

In recent years, much of the content of the news, especially local news, has shifted away from politics and public affairs toward entertainment and lifestyle reports known as:

A) fake news.
B) advertorial content.
C) soft news.
D) click bait.

Question 55

An annual Pew Research Center survey has found, over time, that most Americans hold some mix of liberal and conservative views, and tend toward the political center.

Question 56

Between 6 a.m.and 10 p.m., American radio and television stations are prohibited by federal regulations from airing:

A) political advertising.
B) programs with explicit material.
C) nudity.
D) infomercials.

Question 57

Membership in a social group rarely affects an individual's political orientation.

Question 58

The federal broadcast regulation requiring that radio and television stations give individuals the opportunity to respond to the airing of personal attacks against them is the:

A) equal time rule.
B) right of rebuttal.
C) fairness doctrine.
D) what's fair is fair rule.

Question 59

Identity politics are often zero-sum; that is, if one group wins, another loses.

Question 60

Like liberalism, conservatism is a relatively monolithic and unchanging ideology.

Question 61

Party identification is often a poor indicator of how someone will vote, given the influence of current events and media agenda-setting.

Question 62

Presidential news events typically receive much more news media coverage than similar events by congressional leaders.

Question 63

A person who described the real world of American politics as a simple, if highly polarized, struggle between liberals and conservatives would not be wrong today.

Question 64

Just over 50 percent of the U.S.population consists of native-born white people, with another half being immigrants or people of minority racial or ethnic status.

Question 65

The fastest-growing racial or ethnic segment of the U.S.population is the Asian American community.

Question 66

Basically, the mass media are neutral messengers for ideas developed by others.

Question 67

Most of the programs on talk radio are conservative oriented.

Question 68

Modern public opinion surveys try not just to gauge where majority support lies, but the intensity with which citizens hold their views.

Question 69

Politicians avoid social media outlets because they are seen by most political professionals as shallow and undignified.

Question 70

Podcasts represent one of the fastest-growing ways that people receive programs, including the news.

Question 71

African Americans and whites hold dramatically different views about what government should do for, or what policies should be adopted to help, people in need.

Question 72

What people want government to do on specific issues usually changes from election to election.

Question 73

The average American exhibits a great deal of knowledge of political institutions, processes, leaders, and policy debates.

Question 74

Elected officials tend to shy away from trying to influence public opinion.

Question 75

What factors account for differences in public opinion?

Question 76

As of 2017, about 80 percent of Americans had access to, and used, the Internet.

Question 77

Despite starkly varying levels of support for social welfare programs, black and white Americans tend to view equality of opportunity in similar ways.

Question 78

The American public's assessment of the job the president is doing rarely corresponds to economic performance.

Question 79

Interest groups have little influence on public opinion.

Question 80

In terms of political orientation, men tend to be more militaristic.