Deck 4: The Structural Foundations of American Government and Politics

Question 1

The term that refers to widely shared core beliefs about human nature, society, and government is __________.

A) belief system
B) ideology
C) patriotic idealism
D) political culture
E) suffrage

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Members of which of the following groups are least likely to be in poverty?

A) blacks
B) children
C) Hispanics
D) single-parent, female-headed households
E) the elderly

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Which of the following is most closely associated with hyper-competition?

A) globalization
B) protectionism
C) the development and manufacture of the Boeing 747
D) the post-Civil War economy
E) the post-World War II economy

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Over which of the following issues has the United States and the European Union been the most starkly divided?

A) copyrights and patents
B) environmental protection
C) extradition treaties
D) the exploration of space
E) the Olympics

Question 5

Which of the following enabled Boeing to launch its "global partnering" model?

A) a new trade agreement with South America that opened up access to raw materials
B) the availability of cheap, fast, and reliable freight service
C) the availability of cheap labor in and around Seattle
D) the availability of large amounts of domestically available aluminum
E) U.S. laws mandating that American companies use domestic raw materials "whenever practicable"

Question 6

The strongest military power in the world today is __________.

A) China
B) Great Britain
C) Iran
D) Russia
E) the United States

Question 7

What percentage of the U.S. population is composed of African Americans and Asians?

A) 5.5 percent
B) 15.2 percent
C) 16.2 percent
D) 17.6 percent
E) 22.1 percent

Question 8

The "By the Numbers" feature presents two ways to measure income inequality. How does inequality in the United States compare with inequality in other democracies around the world?

A) The United States ranks at about the middle of the pack in terms of inequality. While the problem does not seem to be getting worse, it is not getting better either.
B) The United States ranks very high on measures of inequality and the problem seems to be getting worse.
C) The United States ranks very high on measures of inequality but the problem seems to be getting better.
D) The United States ranks very low on measures on inequality and the problem seems to be getting better.
E) The United States ranks very low on measures on inequality but the problem seems to be getting worse.

Question 9

To build the 787 Dreamliner, Boeing __________.

A) contained costs by avoiding unionized labor
B) partnered with other firms to share rewards and risks
C) promised to use American workers only
D) renegotiated union contracts to keep production at home
E) used tried-and-true materials and production processes

Question 10

Following World War II, which of the following events significantly facilitated the suburbanization of America?

A) industrialization and globalization
B) massive road building and government-guaranteed home loans for veterans
C) the Grange movement and the accompanying need for more agricultural workers
D) the growing influence of Hispanic and Asian voters
E) the Homestead Act and the Preemption Act

Question 11

What best characterizes the transformation of the American economy that began in the 1970s and continues today?

A) depression
B) globalization
C) inflation
D) recession
E) stagflation

Question 12

Which of the following characterizes the shift in the distribution of the American population between 1950 and 2000?

A) The percentage of Americans living in suburbs increased, while the percentages living in rural areas and cities decreased.
B) The percentage of Americans living in cities increased, while the percentages living in rural areas and suburbs decreased.
C) The percentages of Americans living in cities and rural areas increased, while the percentage living in suburbs decreased.
D) The percentages of Americans living in rural areas and suburbs increased, while the percentage living in cities decreased.
E) The percentages of Americans living in the cities and suburbs increased, while the percentage living in rural areas decreased.

Question 13

The American economic system is best characterized as __________.

A) capitalist
B) collectivist
C) isolationist
D) mercantilist
E) socialist

Question 14

__________ is the largest economy in the world, but __________ is catching up quickly.

A) China, Brazil
B) China, the United States
C) Japan, China
D) The United States, China
E) The United States, Japan

Question 15

Which of the following best describes where the 787 Dreamliner was built?

A) all over the United States and then assembled outside Seattle, Washington
B) all over the world and then assembled outside Seattle, Washington
C) entirely in and around Washington, D.C.
D) entirely in the state of Washington
E) entirely in the United States

Question 16

What is sourcing?

A) government regulations relating to trade with Japan
B) reducing the fringe benefits offered to American workers
C) subcontracting jobs to foreign companies
D) subcontracting jobs to other American companies
E) using new technology to redesign a product

Question 17

What is the 787 Dreamliner?

A) an airplane built by the European company Airbus to compete with the Boeing 747
B) an airplane that was introduced in 1970 and built almost entirely in the United States
C) an airplane that was introduced in 1970 and built using a "global partnering" model
D) an airplane that was introduced in 2010 and built almost entirely in the United States
E) an airplane that was introduced in 2010 and built using a "global partnering" model

Question 18

Which region of the United States has the fastest rate of population growth?

A) the Midwest
B) the Northeast
C) the South
D) the Sun Belt
E) the West

Question 19

Outsourcing __________.

A) is beneficial for American workers
B) is disliked by many Americans
C) is less likely in free-trade industries
D) is subcontracting jobs to American companies
E) was heavily used to design the Boeing 747

Question 20

Which of the following was a major factor contributing to urbanization in America in the early 1900s?

A) a decrease in the power of political parties
B) a massive federal and state road-building program
C) an increase in taxes in rural areas
D) an increase in the need for agricultural workers
E) the arrival of industrialization

Question 21

Consistent with their belief in individualism, Americans tend to support __________.

A) an equal ability to influence electoral outcomes
B) an equal ability to influence public policy outcomes
C) economic equality
D) equality of condition
E) equality of opportunity

Question 22

In the last few decades, American corporations have __________.

A) almost always preferred protectionism over free trade
B) become apolitical
C) become more global
D) helped reduce the gap between rich and poor
E) lost most of their money

Question 23

When are politicians most likely to listen to the concerns of immigrants?

A) after immigrants become citizens who are eligible to vote
B) as soon as immigrants arrive in the United States
C) during an economic downtown
D) when doing so will jeopardize their standing with natives
E) when nativist sentiment is strongest

Question 24

Public opinion in which of the following countries places the greatest emphasis on providing freedom to ensure goals rather than guaranteeing that no one is in need?

A) Britain
B) France
C) Germany
D) Italy
E) the United States

Question 25

Of the following, who was best able to weather the Great Recession?

A) blue-collar workers
B) labor union members
C) low-skilled service workers
D) manufacturing industry employees
E) software engineers

Question 26

What regions have benefited the most from shifting political power in the last few decades?

A) East and Midwest
B) Great Lakes and Pacific Northwest
C) Mountain and Midwest
D) Northeast and Southwest
E) South and West

Question 27

Which of the following characterizes the business model used to create the 787 Dreamliner?

A) Boeing serves as the system integrator, supply chain manager, and final assembler of elements designed by partner firms.
B) Boeing uses American workers, American steel, and American ingenuity to create a top-quality product that airlines are willing to pay top dollar for.
C) Boeing uses green building materials that are available locally and can be harvested in a sustainable manner.
D) Boeing works with partner firms that do most of the research, development, and manufacturing of parts that are then sold to Boeing at a price determined by a contractual relationship.
E) The company contains costs by avoiding all unionized labor.

Question 28

Industrial enterprises grew to unprecedented sizes in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, partly because __________.

A) markets were being closed all over the world
B) new technologies required huge levels of investment and manpower
C) the American economy became isolated and primarily domestic
D) the government required new enterprises to have at least a hundred employees
E) the population began to leave the cities to live in rural areas

Question 29

Recent changes to the age of the American population are most likely to put a strain on which of the following?

A) immigration
B) Medicare
C) national security
D) public schools
E) roads

Question 30

Which of the following is a core element of American political culture?

A) a strong sense of individualism
B) belief in government interventionism
C) distrust of free enterprise
D) hostility toward religion
E) support for socialism

Question 31

In both political and economic terms, __________ is the most powerful state in the union.

A) California
B) Florida
C) New York
D) Ohio
E) Texas

Question 32

American political culture places greater emphasis on __________ than does any other democracy.

A) demagoguery
B) equality of condition
C) freedom
D) globalization
E) human rights

Question 33

In recent decades, Southern states usually have given their votes for president to __________.

A) Democrats
B) Greens
C) Independents
D) Libertarians
E) Republicans

Question 34

The study of population characteristics in terms age, education, religion, and occupation is called __________.

A) cultural studies
B) demography
C) geography
D) nativism
E) social studies

Question 35

Sun Belt states __________.

A) are generally more conservative than other states
B) are generally more liberal than other states
C) tend to be more unionized than other states
D) tend to have higher tax burdens than other states
E) tend to support third parties more than other states

Question 36

Which of the following regions has the lowest gross domestic product?

A) Africa
B) China and Japan
C) North America
D) Northern Europe
E) Western Europe

Question 37

Which of the following is a consequence of the suburbanization of America?

A) a decline in poverty and in increase in inequality
B) diminished power of the rural voice in state and national politics
C) fewer immigrants attracted to the United States
D) increased power of the rural voice in state and national politics
E) passage of a "national urban strategy" by the U.S. Congress

Question 38

Which of the following contributed to globalization?

A) development of the Internet
B) increased government regulation of American industries
C) increased shipping costs
D) international agreements that erected trade barriers
E) new tariffs on imports from China

Question 39

Which of the following served to heighten the United States' power in the world during the 1990s?

A) Bill Clinton was elected president.
B) Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe.
C) Developing countries rejected privatization.
D) North Korea adopted a market economy.
E) The price of world oil increased.

Question 40

How does the Boeing 787 Dreamliner save fuel compared to older Boeing models?

A) It has a larger fuel tank.
B) It can be refilled mid-air.
C) It's made primarily of aluminum.
D) It's made primarily of titanium.
E) It's made primarily of strong, light pieces of carbon.

Question 41

Why were Americans skeptical of the bailouts of the banking and automobile industries during the Great Recession?

A) Americans did not want to help industries they perceived to be powerful and privileged.
B) Americans discovered that the bailout was a quid pro quo for those industries' support of Barack Obama in the 2008 election.
C) Americans tend to be trusting of government but to distrust specific government policies.
D) Americans viewed these industries as being superfluous to the American economy.
E) Americans wanted a complete takeover of these industries rather than a partial takeover.

Question 42

In the 1890s, the U.S. immigrant population was __________.

A) greater than now as a percentage of the overall population
B) less than now as a percentage of the overall population
C) mostly from Eastern European countries
D) mostly from Latin and South American countries
E) negligible, there were very few immigrants at the time

Question 43

Why might a company engage in outsourcing?

A) to demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship
B) to lower costs
C) to make its American workforce more satisfied
D) to please labor unions
E) to win the praise of American politicians

Question 44

Boeing has challenged the dominant economic trend by relying entirely on local materials, craftsmanship, and creative talent in building the 787 Dreamliner.

Question 45

According to American political culture, who is mostly to blame for the problems facing an alcoholic?

A) society as a whole
B) the alcoholic
C) the alcoholic's family
D) the government
E) the liquor industry

Question 46

Which of the following best describes the Occupy Wall Street movement?

A) communist
B) elitist
C) populist
D) racist
E) supportive of deregulation

Question 47

Why does economic inequality threaten democracy?

A) Democracy is predicated on economic equality.
B) Economic inequality increases the incentives for political participation.
C) Economic inequality means that fewer citizens are affected by government decisions.
D) Those who are poor are less effective democratic citizens.
E) Those who are poor are more effective democratic citizens.

Question 48

Which of the following candidates is most likely to win an election in the United States?

A) one who celebrates ordinary Americans
B) one who espouses collectivism
C) one who flaunts Ivy League credentials
D) one who received campaign contributions from the Godless Americans PAC
E) one who trusts government

Question 49

The "Can You Get Ahead in America?" feature shows that in recent decades __________ about their economic prospects.

A) Millennials and seniors were most optimistic
B) Millennials and seniors were most pessimistic
C) no one became more optimistic
D) only 40- to 60-year-olds grew more pessimistic
E) only Millennials grew more optimistic

Question 50

Which of the following candidates is most likely to receive support from the American people?

A) a collectivist
B) a Francophile
C) an agnostic
D) an elitist
E) a populist

Question 51

Today, unequal distribution of wealth and income in the United States results in __________.

A) estate redistribution laws
B) laws of primogeniture
C) political divisions and conflicts
D) similar ideologies across the entire income spectrum
E) the formation of an aristocracy

Question 52

Which of the following best describes the Tea Party movement?

A) collectivist
B) populist
C) racist
D) socialist
E) trustful of government

Question 53

How have the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan affected America's power in the world?

A) They have depleted U.S. resources and left America economically weakened.
B) They have depleted U.S. resources, but increased the prestige of America in the world.
C) They have increased America's military power by demonstrating the willingness of the U.S. to preemptively fight perceived enemies to the American way of life.
D) They have made the U.S. stronger by reducing the threat of terrorism.
E) They have stimulated the American economy by creating a demand for goods necessary for the war effort.

Question 54

How is the global economy most likely to affect typical American workers?

A) fewer fringe benefits
B) higher wages
C) increased unionization
D) increased use of domestic raw materials
E) more high-paying jobs available

Question 55

Which of the following is an element of American political culture that made it very difficult to pass health care reform in 2010?

A) a penchant for high taxes
B) collectivism
C) distrust of government
D) societal responsibility to care for all
E) unwillingness to help those who deserve it

Question 56

Which of the following recent events depleted U.S. resources and harmed the attractiveness of the American economic model?

A) the enactment of NAFTA
B) the resurgence of communism in Western Europe
C) the rise of China as an economic powerhouse
D) the success of the Euro
E) the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Question 57

How has America's position as the world's military leader affected American society and politics?

A) Democrats have become more popular and Republicans have become less popular.
B) Fewer Americans are willing to lend moral support to those who serve in the military.
C) The U.S. government spends a large portion of its budget on national security.
D) The U.S. has become less reliant on the National Guard.
E) U.S. politics are so focused on military issues that domestic issues are largely ignored.

Question 58

Which of the following makes typical Americans the most nervous?

A) capitalism
B) democracy
C) globalization
D) industrialization
E) mass production

Question 59

Boeing's shareholders may have benefitted from its "global partnering" model, but the American workforce did not.

Question 60

Why did Boeing use a different model for designing and manufacturing the 787 Dreamliner than it used for the 747?

A) because lawmakers in Washington, D.C., urged Boeing to provide a firm economic foundation for American workers in Washington state
B) because NAFTA regulations prevented using the same model for the 787 that was used for the 747
C) because the 787 Dreamliner would be made entirely of aluminum, necessitating an entirely new fabrication procedure
D) because the 747 was the worst commercial aviation failure since the Spruce Goose and Boeing had to try something different in order to be profitable
E) because the structural foundations of American society had become much more global since the 747 was built

Question 61

In terms of future economic success, it is much better to be a software engineer than a bricklayer.

Question 62

An American is more likely to live in poverty than is a Frenchman.

Question 63

Americans are slightly more likely to believe that immigrants strengthen the U.S. through their work and talent rather than think of them as a burden to society because they take jobs and receive public benefits.

Question 64

With the fall of the Soviet Union, and Soviet-style communism in Eastern Europe, the United States could lay claim to the title of the world's only __________.

Question 65

Political candidates would be advised to speak of their distrust of government, a strategy sometimes called "running for Congress by running against it."

Question 66

At more than 16 percent of the population, __________ are currently the largest minority group in the United States.

Question 67

Nativists are primarily concerned with ensuring that Native American Indians have equal rights.

Question 68

President Obama failed to introduce an immigration bill during his first term, but he did sign the __________, which granted temporary residency for immigrants brought here as children.

Question 69

Over the past four decades, median household income in the United States has grown faster than the overall growth of the economy.

Question 70

__________ is an economic system in which most productive assets are in private rather than public hands.

Question 71

On the eve of the presidential campaign in 2011, polls showed strong support for the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street agendas, especially from middle-class, middle-aged men.

Question 72

The influx of immigrants to America's shores in the nineteenth century triggered negative reactions, sparking what has been termed __________ sentiment.

Question 73

The process of urbanization in America was caused mainly by the rise of service industries.

Question 74

American political culture is particularly conducive to redistributive policies.

Question 75

Political power has shifted in the United States, as Americans flowed from rural to metropolitan areas, then to suburbia, and most recently to __________.

Question 76

China currently has the largest economy in the world, as measured by GDP.

Question 77

According to the authors of the textbook, the Great Recession and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have weakened the attractiveness of the American economic model in the eyes of the world.

Question 78

A labor union member is likely to dislike globalization because it often leads to cuts in health care benefits.

Question 79

Economic inequality in America may undermine political equality.

Question 80

The __________ have poked fun at the United States, calling the intense competitiveness of Americans the Anglo-Saxon disease.