Deck 6: Social Class and Families

Question 1

In a closed mobility system,

A) People live and die in the same class as the one into which they were born.
B) Individual's social status position is determined by ascription.
C) Individual's social status position is determined by achievement.
D) Both (a) and (b) above.
E) Both (a) and (c) above.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In a meritocracy,

A) Only the most able people would rise to the top.
B) Status would always be by achievement.
C) The mobility system would be completely open.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In Karl Marx's conflict theory, one's social class position is determined by

A) How much money one makes.
B) How much education one has.
C) How much prestige one's occupation has.
D) Whether or not one owns the means of production.
E) All of the above.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

In functionalist explanations for social stratification,

A) Inequality is found in all societies.
B) Inequality is wrong and should be changed.
C) Inequality is beneficial to society.
D) Both (a) and (b) above.
E) Both (a) and (c) above.

Question 5

"The process whereby a society reproduces its system of inequality from one generation to the next" is

A) Cultural capital.
B) Human capital.
C) Social reproduction.
D) Intergenerational mobility.
E) Bourgeoisement.

Question 6

The concept of "cultural capital" is central to which explanation of social stratification?

A) Structural: functionalism.
B) Structural: conflict theory.
C) Individual.
D) Cultural.
E) Meta-analytical.

Question 7

The concept of human capital is most closely identified with which explanation of social stratification?

A) Structural: functionalism.
B) Structural: conflict theory.
C) Individual.
D) Cultural.
E) Meta-analytical.

Question 8

Which of the following was NOT mentioned as an element in multidimensional views of social class?

A) Income.
B) Physical appearance.
C) Wealth.
D) Occupational prestige.
E) Formal power.

Question 9

Which best summarizes the relationship, in the United States, between income of one's family of orientation and income one has as an adult?

A) There is no relationship.
B) A child whose parents are in the bottom third of income has virtually no chance to end up in the top third of income.
C) A child whose parents are in the bottom third of income has a lower chance of ending up in the top third than a child who is born in the top third.
D) A child whose parents are wealthy is as likely to end up poor as a child whose parents are poor.
E) The United States is clearly an ideal-typical open mobility system.

Question 10

Which statement best summarizes the information in the text regarding determination of status for couples in the United States (along with Sweden, Norway, and Australia) today?

A) Nearly all couples now use the status maximization strategy.
B) The status minimization strategy is now the most common.
C) The traditional status borrowing model still applies to most couples.
D) The status-independence model is now the most common.
E) The concept of social status no longer applies to American couples.

Question 11

Which is true with respect to the effect of parents' education on children's education?

A) Mother's education is more influential than father's education for both boys and girls.
B) Mother's education is more influential for girls, while father's education is more influential for boys.
C) The children most likely to go to college are those whose parents both went to college.
D) Both (a) and (c) above.
E) Both (b) and (c) above.

Question 12

Which is true regarding race and poverty in the United States?

A) Blacks and Hispanics each have a higher number of poor people than do Whites.
B) There are more poor Whites than any other group.
C) The probability of being poor is higher for Blacks and Hispanics than for Whites.
D) Both (a) and (c).
E) Both (b) and (c).

Question 13

Which best summarizes the way the household poverty threshold has been determined in the United States?

A) It is the lowest cost of minimum daily nutrition times 3.
B) It is set at ½ the median household income.
C) It is the dollar income that includes the poorest 20% of households.
D) It is the lowest reasonable cost of food plus housing times 2.
E) The U.S. Congress votes on a dollar amount each year, based on unclear criteria.

Question 14

It is true about poverty and families since 1960 that

A) The percent of female-headed families that is poor has gone down.
B) The percent of poor families headed by females has gone up.
C) The overall poverty rate would probably have gone down faster if the rate of single-parent families had not increased.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Question 15

Which of the following groups has the LOWEST rate of births to unmarried mothers?

A) Whites.
B) Blacks.
C) American Indians.
D) Asians and Pacific Islanders.
E) Hispanics.

Question 16

Since 1970, the percentage of births to unmarried women has gone up in each of the following countries EXCEPT:

A) Japan.
B) The United States.
C) Sweden.
D) Italy.
E) France.

Question 17

An international comparison reveals that

A) High rates of unwed parents are always associated with high rates of poverty.
B) High rates of unwed parents do not necessarily result in high rates of poverty.
C) The unwed parent rate has increased throughout the western, industrialized world.
D) Both (a) and (c)
E) Both (b) and (c)

Question 18

The increase in AFDC benefits in the 1950s was seen by its supporters

A) As a way to break up the patriarchal nuclear family.
B) As a profamily act because it would allow widows and divorced mothers to stay home and care for their children.
C) As a way to reduce unemployment.
D) As a way to reduce the need for divorced and never-married fathers to pay child support.
E) As a way to reduce the number of out-of-wedlock births.

Question 19

The view that increased wealth in the hands of the rich will result in an improved economy that will help the poor is

A) Called trickle-down economics.
B) Likely to be supported by Republicans and conservatives, more than by Democrats and liberals.
C) Threatens the overall system of social stratification in America.
D) All of the above.
E) Only (a) and (b) above.

Question 20

"Redistribution of something of value from one person or group to another person or group, not based on work the receiver is performing"

A) Is the definition of a transfer payment.
B) Is the definition of welfare payments.
C) Only moves value from the wealthy to the poor.
D) Both (a) and (c).
E) Both (b) and (c).

Question 21

In comparing the working class with the middle class,

A) Working class men perform most of the dangerous jobs.
B) Working class women are less likely to suffer sexual harassment than are middle-class professional women.
C) Blue collar workers are generally more economically stable than middle-class professionals.
D) All of the above.
E) Only (a) and (b) above.

Question 22

Compared to the "restricted code," the "elaborated code"

A) Is more associated with the working class.
B) Includes strong bonds with relatives and friends.
C) Includes a moral code with clear distinctions between right and wrong.
D) Is associated with jobs requiring initiative, self-control, and creativity.
E) Stresses, in socialization of children, behavior, obedience, and being strong .

Question 23

It is true about the upper-middle class that

A) They get married younger than their working class counterparts.
B) They delay having children longer than the working class.
C) They are the most likely to vote, run for office, and be involved in political campaigns.
D) Both (a) and (b).
E) Both (b) and (c).

Question 24

Which of the compared household types are more likely to be in the top 5% of income?

A) Whites more than Blacks.
B) Married couple families more than single householders.
C) Householder 65 or older more than householder 45-54.
D) All the above.
E) Only (a) and (b) above.

Question 25

What is the distinction between the upper-upper class family and the lower-upper class family?

A) The upper-upper class family has a larger income.
B) The upper-upper class family has more wealth.
C) The upper-upper class has old family wealth; the lower-upper is new wealth.
D) The upper-upper class is self-made; the lower-upper has inherited wealth.
E) The upper-upper class families show off their wealth more.

Question 26

Explain the inequality and mobility continuum. Using information from the chapter, place the United States at the point on the continuum you believe it belongs.

Question 27

Present the cultural explanation for the existence of inequality, then discuss that explanation from the point of view of either the conflict theory or the functionalist explanations.

Question 28

How would the various theories of inequality explain the occupational prestige rankings?

Question 29

Discuss the relationship between rates of poverty and rates of single-parent households. Include information from the United States as well as from other countries.

Question 30

In what major ways do working-class and middle-class Americans differ?

Question 31

Explain how the poverty threshold is determined.

Question 32

What is the difference between the upper-upper class and the lower-upper class? Why do social scientists have so little information about such families?

Question 33

What is the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) and how does it affect family well-being and health in the US?