Deck 2: Culture

Question 1

What major societal requirement does social control fulfill?

A) It ensures cultural innovation.
B) It curtails and limits freedoms of people.
C) It protects culturally defined comfort zones.
D) It ensures stable patterns of interaction.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

An anthropologist penetrates a remote jungle village in Brazil to find the last Aboriginal people living a traditional life and sharing a river valley, with common religious beliefs, kinship definitions, and common laws. According to sociologists, what term best describes their affiliation?

A) community
B) nation
C) society
D) culture

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A grandfather spends hours talking to his granddaughter about his life experiences, while also speaking about family traditions. From a sociological perspective, what is the grandfather transmitting to his granddaughter?

A) culture
B) symbols
C) language
D) sanctions

Answer 3

A

Question 4

When an archeologist finds a piece of pottery from 5000 B.C., he or she is finding direct evidence of what aspect of human activity?

A) the ability to carry water
B) the ability to make fire
C) the ability to produce material goods
D) the ability to think abstractly

Question 5

Tracy is preparing a roast beef dinner for her husband for the first time. She cuts off the end of the roast, as she had always seen her mother do when preparing a roast. However, Tracy realizes she does not know why she would waste a perfectly good piece of meat. She later finds out that her mother always did this because her roast pan was not big enough for her roasts. Which of the following terms helps us to understand Tracy's practice of cutting off the end of her roast?

A) values
B) beliefs
C) culture
D) norms

Question 6

Understanding that le chat (French) and el gato (Spanish) mean the same thing as cat is an example of which human capacity?

A) communication
B) sanction
C) cooperation
D) abstraction

Question 7

What do sociologists call rewards and punishments that are aimed at ensuring conformity?

A) norms
B) sanctions
C) folklore
D) folkways

Question 8

Which of the following best demonstrates our ability to adhere to norms?

A) the ability to cooperate
B) reflexes and responses to stimuli
C) the ability to make sounds
D) the ability to make meaning

Question 9

What is the sociological term that relates to social control and refers to the punishment of inappropriate behaviour?

A) negative conditioning
B) negative sanction
C) operant conditioning
D) punishment sanction

Question 10

Jason was recently demoted at work because of his lack of productivity and reliability. From a sociological perspective, which of the following terms best reflects this cultural practice of demotion in the workplace?

A) demoted sanction
B) social sanction
C) positive sanction
D) employment sanction

Question 11

According to the text, when is a society sociologically characterized by cooperation?

A) when large groups of people share the same outlooks and views
B) when people are consistently seen to be helping each other
C) when the majority of people in that society enjoy a good life
D) when norms provide the capacity to create a complex social life

Question 12

What term do sociologists use to identify generally acceptable ways of doing things?

A) beliefs
B) social control
C) norms
D) sanctions

Question 13

What is the sociological term that relates to social control and refers to the rewarding of appropriate behaviour?

A) positive conditioning
B) operant conditioning
C) positive sanction
D) reward sanction

Question 14

Which of the following illustrates humans' ability to think abstractly?

A) the ability to learn and transmit knowledge
B) the ability to steer clear of danger
C) the ability to deceive
D) the ability to draw art

Question 15

Sarah was recently promoted to an upper-level management position because of her excellent performance in her junior management position. From a sociological perspective, which of the following terms best reflects this cultural practice of promotion in the workplace?

A) promotional sanction
B) social sanction
C) positive sanction
D) employment sanction

Question 16

Every Thanksgiving Willy and his family prepare a turkey dinner to share with their extended family members. When Willy's daughter grows up, she will carry on the tradition for her family. What does this example illustrate?

A) the social transmission of symbols
B) the social transmission of culture
C) the social transmission of family
D) the social transmission of values

Question 17

What has the use of symbols allowed humans to do?

A) classify experience and generalize from it
B) continue efforts in the face of fatigue
C) control our autonomic nervous system
D) differentiate ourselves from our environment

Question 18

"You don't really mean to chew with your mouth open, do you?" This statement is intended to serve which of the following functions?

A) to construct cultural norms
B) to encourage rational action
C) to create cultural discomfort
D) to enforce social control

Question 19

What do sociologists call the tools and techniques that humans use to take what we want from nature?

A) material culture
B) legal sanctions
C) biological instinct
D) social values

Question 20

According to the text, what term refers to our ability to create symbolic meaning systems?

A) numeracy
B) symbolism
C) communication
D) abstraction

Question 21

For the last several years gays and lesbians in Canada have been legally marrying. This change came about partly as a result of pressure and lobbying by members of Canada's gay community. This was only one of the latest in several advancements for minorities. What term has been applied to Canada's increasing acceptance of diversity?

A) minority radicalism
B) postmodern inclusion
C) the rights revolution
D) minority group pressure

Question 22

According to the text, recent Canadian data on cultural diversification shows which of the following?

A) There are now more Muslims in Canada than Christians.
B) More than a fifth of Canada's population will be nonwhite by 2017.
C) About 95 percent of Canadian immigrants are from outside Europe and the United States.
D) About 95 percent of Canadian immigrants are from Europe and the United States.

Question 23

Eric was recently in Romania and found it difficult to get around because people were always pushing each other in crowded spaces. When he returned home he told his friends and family that Romanians were the rudest people he had ever met. This statement is a reflection of which social phenomenon?

A) cultural relativism
B) globalization
C) ethnocentrism
D) universalism

Question 24

Which of the following is illustrated by a Mumbai schoolboy listening to Bob Marley on his MP3 player?

A) the expansion of cultural comfort zones
B) how the media is diversifying culture
C) the shrinking of cultural repertoires
D) globalization in the realm of the media

Question 25

At Juan's house last night, we had lasagna for dinner and he played some music by the hottest new band from Germany. Afterward, we went out to meet his friend from Japan at a karaoke bar. The evening was a perfect example of what relatively recent development in our society?

A) consumerism
B) rationalization
C) immigration
D) globalization

Question 26

Wives of warriors in a particular foraging tribe must present to their husbands a first-born child who is male. If the first-born child is a female, a midwife will pick the baby up by the ankles and smash its head on a rock. In our society we are shocked and offended. What term do sociologists have for our feeling of horror from this example?

A) cultural relativism
B) ethnocentrism
C) moral indignation
D) moral outrage

Question 27

Sonia walks down the street in Toronto and hears six different languages being spoken by others on the street. Which term best illustrates Sonia's experience in Toronto?

A) multiculturalism
B) globalization
C) linguistic integration
D) cultural evolution

Question 28

Alex was just given a lecture from his boss about being late for work and his overall lack of motivation. From a sociological perspective, which of the following terms best reflects this example?

A) employment sanction
B) social sanction
C) re-sanction
D) negative sanction

Question 29

Which of the following statements best reflects moderate cultural relativism?

A) It is the idea that not all cultures are equal.
B) It is the idea that all cultures and cultural practices have equal value.
C) It is the idea that cultural differences should be tolerated within reason.
D) It suggests that we should respect all cultural practices, even if they are harmful.

Question 30

According to the text, what does Adams (1997) suggest about multiculturalism?

A) The support for multiculturalism is correlated with support for gender equality.
B) Multiculturalism produces social cohesion and homogenization.
C) Money for multiculturalism is given only to the smallest minority groups.
D) The benefits of multiculturalism are limited to immigrants and ethnic minorities.

Question 31

The freedom of culture, such as the ability to engage in many different cultural practices from many different places, is exemplified by which of the following terms?

A) rationalization
B) cultural diversification
C) consumerism
D) cultural reproduction

Question 32

When Europeans try to understand the passion and motivation behind North American hockey riots, they are practising which of the following social phenomenon?

A) cultural relativism
B) globalization
C) ethnocentrism
D) universalism

Question 33

According to statistical records, which of the following best characterizes immigration to Canada back in 1961?

A) Five out of the top ten source countries of Canadian immigration were Asian.
B) Nine out of ten immigrants were from Europe and the United States.
C) One-third of immigrants to Canada were white and most were from Great Britain.
D) Half of immigrants to Canada were nonwhites and from the continent of Africa.

Question 34

Which of the following is an example of ethnocentrism?

A) respecting cultural differences no matter what
B) assuming democracy is the best social model
C) finding what others eat intriguing and interesting
D) seeing other religions as on a par with your own

Question 35

"I think everyone in the world should learn English so that everyone can communicate more efficiently." This statement is a reflection of which social phenomenon?

A) ethnocentrism
B) globalization
C) linguistic authority
D) linguistic dominance

Question 36

Which of the following is an example of ethnocentrism?

A) appreciating another culture's practices as superior to those of your culture
B) translating a book from another language into English
C) First Nations people rejecting city life on the basis of traditional values
D) cooking or dining out to experience ethnically different foods

Question 37

What do sociologists call viewing the world from the perspective of one's own culture?

A) primary process thinking
B) neo-tribalism
C) ethnocentrism
D) cultural bias

Question 38

"Modern globalized culture allows people to be eclectic about preferences in music, but at the same time it limits mainstream lifestyle to one of consumerism in a capitalist society." What effect of culture has been identified in the preceding statement?

A) Modern culture is both freeing and constraining.
B) Globalization is resulting in a more heterogeneous world.
C) Globalization is resulting in a more homogeneous world.
D) Modern culture is fed by a barrage of media messages.

Question 39

Ana just moved to Canada from China and is learning to speak English. Once Ana has learned her new language, she will see the world in new ways. Which of the following terms best reflects this process?

A) language acquisition
B) the Sapir-Whorf thesis
C) perceptual modification
D) semantic modification

Question 40

Which of the following are aspects of globalization?

A) shrinking rates of international travel and communication
B) protectionism and buy-at-home or made-in-Canada policies
C) high taxes and tariffs on foreign and imported goods
D) international migration and increased contact between cultures

Question 41

On the day Harvey is old enough to legally drink, he and his friends go on a pub crawl and get very inebriated. This is a common way to mark the occasion among many, if not most, Canadian men. What term best describes this normative adolescent celebration?

A) coming of age
B) age of majority
C) manhood celebration
D) rite of passage

Question 42

What does the author call the powerful social conditioning illustrated in the story of Werkglocke?

A) internalization
B) alienation
C) socialization
D) emancipation

Question 43

According to the text, which of the following statements reflects attitudes of Canadians in comparison to our American neighbours?

A) Canadians are more indifferent and apathetic than Americans.
B) Canadians are less confident about their government than Americans.
C) Canadians are increasingly more respectful of social institutions than Americans.
D) Canadians are more radical and revolutionary than Americans.

Question 44

According to the text, which of the following would be considered a Big Historical Project?

A) communism
B) consumerism
C) advertising
D) organic farming

Question 45

Which of the following statements best reflects postmodernist ideas?

A) People feel disempowered.
B) People feel restricted from adopting comfortable identities.
C) People feel optimistic about solving earth's challenges.
D) People feel more responsible for their own fate today than they did in the past.

Question 46

There was a demonstration on a university campus that brought both students and professors together in a protest against the administration. This protest was an example of what cultural phenomenon?

A) postmodernism
B) rationalization
C) consumerism
D) unitarianism

Question 47

According to the text, which of the following is a rite of passage?

A) nightly prayers
B) attending a meeting
C) getting married
D) passing introductory sociology

Question 48

Which of the following is one conclusion of Reginald Bibby's survey research about religious beliefs of Canadians?

A) Religious beliefs have remained relatively stable for decades.
B) Regular church attendees often have no unconventional beliefs.
C) People are increasingly embracing religious rites of passage.
D) People mix unconventional beliefs with traditional religion.

Question 49

Jason questions whether anyone can take on the job of prime minister without prioritizing their own self-interests. His skepticism is a part of which cultural phenomenon?

A) governmentality
B) politicization
C) postmodernism
D) modernization

Question 50

According to the text, which of the following most accurately reflects the current state of the social consciousness of Canadians?

A) Fewer Canadians now take part in a broad range of political action.
B) Canadians have grown more trusting of authority in all institutions.
C) Canadians have a high degree of tolerance and respect for diversity.
D) Voting rates have risen steadily over several federal elections.

Question 51

Cultural freedom has its limits. Which of the following twin forces govern or define these limits in our society?

A) technology and consumerism
B) commodification and consumerism
C) rationalization and technology
D) rationalization and consumerism

Question 52

According to the text, which of the following is a main feature of postmodernism?

A) the consolidation and reinforcement of a central authority
B) increasing agreement and consensus around core values and beliefs
C) a respect for science and technology, and faith to fix our woes
D) the eclectic mixing of elements from different times and places

Question 53

How has the rights revolution affected our culture?

A) It has legitimized the grievances and rights of marginalized groups.
B) It has highlighted our differences and increased tensions in society.
C) It has consolidated and homogenized our literature, music, and languages.
D) It has discouraged pride in the heritage of marginalized groups.

Question 54

The executives at a factory learn that to be most efficient, its employees must work in 12-hour shifts. However, the work is so physically exhausting that most employees quit after a few months. The executives decide that it is more efficient to hire new employees than to reduce the duration of the shifts. What constraint found in our society is this an example of?

A) consumerism
B) rationalization
C) industrialization
D) efficiency

Question 55

A young woman has little faith in the nation's leaders and refuses to vote; however, she is deeply involved as an activist in a worldwide anti-poverty campaign. What kind of sociological label might best describe this person?

A) new-age
B) postmodern
C) modern
D) rational

Question 56

According to the text, which statement best defines rationalization?

A) the logical attempt to see other people's viewpoints
B) calculating the most efficient means to an end despite potential negative consequences
C) the effort to understand cultural diversity
D) a calculated response to an individual's fatalism

Question 57

Adam no longer votes in federal elections, even though he used to vote all of the time. Now, he does not think his vote will make a difference because whatever party gets voted in will do whatever they want anyway. Adam's attitude is a reflection of which of the following features of postmodernism?

A) the conventional wisdom of contemporary life
B) the erosion of authority
C) the eclectic mixing of elements from different times and places
D) the decline of consensus around core values

Question 58

"I want my children to learn Italian because it is part of their culture. The educational system in Canada should provide an opportunity to learn Italian in school." Which of the following social development is reflected in this statement?

A) the rights revolution
B) the language act
C) globalization
D) the global village

Question 59

Approximately 6,000 languages in the world are in danger of having no living speakers. What is the primary cause of this linguistic extinction that is occurring all over the world?

A) the spread of materialism
B) the spread of ethnocentrism
C) the spread of colonizing languages
D) the spread of consumerism

Question 60

Maria va a emailiar Juan. What social phenomenon does "emailiar" in this Spanish sentence illustrate?

A) the importance of technology
B) the globalization of English
C) the changing communications of youth
D) the dominance of consumerism

Question 61

Which of the following statements best describes consumerism?

A) It is a lifestyle marked by sharing and an emphasis on democracy.
B) It is a lifestyle in which people define themselves by what they eat.
C) It is a lifestyle marked by behavioural refinement, style, and grace.
D) It is a lifestyle that involves people defining themselves by what they buy.

Question 62

According to the text, why are most people in North America likely to be good consumers?

A) Manufacturers produce only what people need.
B) People purchase things because it makes them feel good.
C) People want to fit in and be like others, not be outcasts.
D) Styles and trends reflect only what people want.

Question 63

Punk rockers espoused values that were antiestablishment. Punkers shunned regular employment, took drugs, and wore garish clothes. The lyrics to their songs railed against the established order. According to sociologists, what kind of group has such antisocial values?

A) a youth culture
B) a subculture
C) a counterculture
D) a protest culture

Question 64

"I can't possibly wear my black pumps to the dance. The heel is clearly from 2009. What would my girlfriends think?" Which social constraint on human action is reflected in this statement?

A) functionalism
B) fashion
C) rationalization
D) consumerism

Question 65

What is the term for using the most efficient means of achieving a given end despite any negative consequences of such means?

A) routinization
B) production
C) ritualization
D) rationalization

Question 66

Andrea just bought the iPhone 4 last year, but since then all of her friends have upgraded to the new iPhone 5. Even though she really cannot afford the iPhone 5, she decides to buy it with her credit card anyway. What aspect of society is captured by Andrea's decision?

A) rationalism
B) fashion
C) consumerism
D) peer pressure

Question 67

According to the text, what is one consequence of ads directed at children?

A) They help children become informed consumers.
B) They lead to very little brand loyalty in children.
C) They aid parents in making purchases for children.
D) They cause more tantrums by children in malls.

Question 68

From among the following concepts, what would a factory represent?

A) a site of social agreement/consensus
B) a site of social struggle and conflict
C) an example of rationalization
D) a system of modern collaboration

Question 69

While at the grocery store, Alexis throws a full-blown tantrum by kicking, yelling, and screaming because her mother won't let her have the gummy bears that she saw on television. What type of nagging tactic is Alexis using?

A) pleading
B) persistent
C) forceful
D) demonstrative

Question 70

Which of the following statements best characterizes the cause of declining consensus around core Canadian values?

A) It has occurred as a result of the decline of religiosity throughout the world.
B) It has occurred because of a healthy skepticism that is characteristic of postmodernism.
C) It has occurred because of increased personal freedoms worldwide.
D) It has occurred because of increased numbers of nonwhite immigrants.

Question 71

"Everyone at school is wearing Nike running shoes," said Sally. "If I don't have a pair, everyone will make fun of me on the playground." Although Sally is only seven years old, what social practice does she perform in order to obtain the shoes she wants?

A) advertising envy
B) nagging
C) consumption
D) rationalization

Question 72

Which theorist proposed that because of rationalization, life in the modern world is akin to living in an "iron cage"?

A) Thomas Edison
B) Marshall McLuhan
C) Max Weber
D) Sigmund Freud

Question 73

According to Ritzer, what is McDonaldization?

A) The organizational principles of fast-food restaurants are dominating business operations.
B) There is improvement in the standard of living in developing countries.
C) There is increased access to affordable food for more people today than in the past.
D) More people globally have eaten and worked at McDonalds than any other corporation.

Question 74

The invention of the ATM machine has removed the need for human interaction in banking transactions but has also increased the frequency of fraud. This example illustrates which of the following concepts?

A) globalization
B) modernization
C) rationalization
D) consumerism

Question 75

A business consultant makes a living doing time-and-motion studies of workers at their jobs. He makes recommendations to company owners about how work should be subdivided into component tasks for more efficiency. What major idea is being applied in these studies?

A) profitability
B) efficiency
C) economization
D) rationalization

Question 76

A fashion-conscious young high-school man needs to have the latest star athlete's running shoes and brand-name clothes, and wear the latest cologne, and this interests him more than paying attention to his studies. What aspect of society is captured by this young man's lifestyle?

A) rationalism
B) consumerism
C) faddishness
D) fastidiousness

Question 77

New age spiritualist Eckhart Tolle says in his book A New Earth that a person is more than what he or she possesses-yet, regrettably, that is how many people define themselves. What lifestyle label best depicts a person's definition of self in terms of possessions?

A) overconsumption
B) conspicuous consumption
C) consumerism
D) individualism

Question 78

An international fast-food chain has broken employee tasks into such small component parts that most employees can only last a year at a part-time job because the work is so boring and monotonous. What sociological term best describes the constraining nature of such an employee's work?

A) routinization
B) dehumanizing
C) not diversified
D) iron cage

Question 79

Which of the following is the best description of a sociological use of the term rationalization?

A) thinking as logically as possible when trying to explain one's actions
B) application of the most efficient means to achieve goals despite potential negative consequences
C) invocation of values to justify behaviour in a situation that creates a moral dilemma
D) use of abstraction to explain certain cultural phenomena

Question 80

According to the text, which of the following is a consumer society strategy intended to tame countercultural rebels?

A) Public service announcement warn rebels about the negative results of being deviant.
B) Countercultural rebels are co-opted by capitalists and become entrepreneurs.
C) Consumer society employs more agents of social control such as police to tame them.
D) Rebels are targeted by the media with bad news stories about their behaviours.