Deck 7: Economic Problems: Poverty and Wealth

Question 1

The unequal distribution of wealth, income, power, and poverty is called __________.

A) social inequality
B) mass poverty
C) the national debt
D) structural inequality

Answer 1

social inequality

Question 2

Today, poor people spend about __________ of their income on food.

A) one-third
B) one-fifth
C) two-thirds
D) half

Answer 2

one-fifth

Question 3

Income adjusted for inflation is called __________.

A) progressive taxation
B) real income
C) economic colonialism
D) relative poverty

Answer 3

real income

Question 4

The total amount the U.S. government owes is called __________.

A) official poverty
B) the poverty line
C) structural inequality
D) the national debt

Question 5

Which of the following is a problem with the U.S. economy?

A) Real income is growing.
B) Real income is declining.
C) Real income is stagnant.
D) Real income is not measurable.

Question 6

Brad's job description says that he is supposed to analyze and write daily reports on the social institution that produces and distributes goods and services. As such, Brad analyzes __________.

A) the culture of poverty
B) the culture of wealth
C) the economy
D) social inequality

Question 7

Brenda is making more money today than she did 10 years ago. However, after adjusting for inflation, Brenda's income is equal to the income that she had 10 years ago. This illustrates Brenda's __________.

A) relative poverty
B) residual poverty
C) real income
D) progressive taxation

Question 8

Economists suggest that the amount that the United States owes to other nations increases by over $3 billion each day. This reflects growth in __________.

A) official poverty
B) the poverty line
C) structural inequality
D) the national debt

Question 9

Rasheema is homeless. She does not have the food, clothing, or shelter needed to make it through a cold winter in Chicago. She is in __________.

A) official poverty
B) relative poverty
C) biological poverty
D) residual poverty

Question 10

The average personal income for all individuals over the age of 18 was $25,149 in 2005. Libby, who is 34 years old, earned half of that. As such, Libby is experiencing __________.

A) official poverty
B) relative poverty
C) biological poverty
D) residual poverty

Question 11

Maneck qualifies for welfare benefits. As such, he is experiencing __________.

A) official poverty
B) relative poverty
C) biological poverty
D) residual poverty

Question 12

Yoshimi is conducting research on how economic differences among groups in America are measured. Yoshimi's research focuses on __________.

A) the culture of poverty
B) the culture of wealth
C) the economy
D) social class

Question 13

In Brazil, the well-to-do live in fashionable neighborhoods, go to private schools, ride in new cars, and shop at malls. However, the urban poor live in distant housing projects, take long bus trips to work, go to public schools or drop out, and shop at small local shops. This reflects __________.

A) social inequality
B) mass poverty
C) national debt
D) interest groups

Question 14

Which American president declared a war on poverty?

A) President Clinton
B) President Kennedy
C) President Johnson
D) President Reagan

Question 15

__________ dropped out of Harvard to co-found Microsoft Corp.

A) Warren Buffett
B) Ted Kennedy
C) Bill Gates
D) Steve Jobs

Question 16

Structural inequality leads to inequality in __________.

A) income
B) personal savings accounts
C) property
D) debt

Question 17

Today, Sam will meet with a financial advisor. They will begin by discussing the property, savings, investments, and economic assets that Paris owns. In so doing, they will discuss her __________.

A) national debt
B) real income
C) wealth
D) economic colonialism

Question 18

David is blind to the poverty that exists in neighborhoods in the community in which he lives. This is an example of __________.

A) ideal versus reality
B) self-fulfilling prophecy
C) retribution
D) progressive nature

Question 19

Ernie is a crew member at the local McDonald's. Because Ernie works for capitalists, he is __________.

A) a member of the proletariat
B) a means of production
C) a welfare queen
D) a member of the bourgeoisie

Question 20

The __________ perspective suggests that poverty contributes to the well-being of society.

A) functionalist
B) conflict
C) symbolic interactionist
D) feminist

Question 21

The idea that a particular worker will start his or her own business and become wealthy is called __________.

A) the culture of wealth
B) the culture of poverty
C) false class consciousness
D) class consciousness

Question 22

__________ argues that social inequality comes from a basic struggle over limited resources.

A) Functionalism
B) Conflict theory
C) Symbolic interactionism
D) Feminism

Question 23

From the __________ perspective, poverty is relative.

A) functionalist
B) conflict
C) symbolic interactionist
D) feminist

Question 24

Juan's research focuses on how the meaning of poverty has changed over the past 25 years among college students. Juan's research is in line with __________.

A) functionalism
B) conflict theory
C) symbolic interactionism
D) feminist theory

Question 25

Benny believes that society's well-being would be upset if poverty were to be eliminated in the United States. Benny's beliefs are in line with __________.

A) functionalism
B) conflict theory
C) symbolic interactionism
D) feminist theory

Question 26

Matt Kinsler is a capitalist who owns a large candy manufacturing company. As such, Matt is a member of the __________.

A) proletariat
B) means of production
C) welfare queen
D) bourgeoisie

Question 27

Cora is a baker. She has been baking cakes at the local supermarket for the past 13 years. Cora believes that one day she will save enough money from her current job to open her own chain of bakeries and eventually become a millionaire. This illustrates __________.

A) the culture of wealth
B) the culture of poverty
C) false class consciousness
D) class consciousness

Question 28

The poverty rate of Americans over age 65 is __________.

A) higher than that of the nation as a whole
B) the highest it has ever been
C) the same as that of the nation as a whole
D) lower than that of the nation as a whole

Question 29

The power elite has also been called the __________.

A) culture of wealth
B) G-8
C) capitalists
D) ruling class

Question 30

When many citizens of a country live on less than $1,000 a year, __________exists.

A) relative poverty
B) official poverty
C) residual poverty
D) mass poverty

Question 31

When wealthy nations exploit poorer nations, this is called __________.

A) political colonialism
B) economic colonialism
C) cold war
D) progressive taxation

Question 32

In Senegal, West Africa, most people live on $550 per year. As such, Senegal is characterized by __________.

A) relative poverty
B) the culture of poverty
C) residual poverty
D) mass poverty

Question 33

In Mill's conception of the power elite in the United States, __________.

A) the president of the United States has the most power
B) the heads of corporations have the most power
C) the military has the most power
D) the media has the most power

Question 34

Barbara and her children live in poverty. They represent __________.

A) the lazy attitude that many women have about working
B) a small group of women who live in poverty
C) the feminization of poverty
D) a group that is socially and politically active

Question 35

Bill's research examines the struggle for political power among unions, industries, and professional associations. The research is concerned with __________.

A) the power elite
B) the G-8
C) interest groups
D) capitalists

Question 36

The idea that people who remain poor year after year have developed a way of life that traps them in poverty is called __________.

A) the culture of wealth
B) class consciousness
C) false class consciousness
D) the culture of poverty

Question 37

Canada has pockets of poverty. As such, Canada is characterized by __________.

A) relative poverty
B) official poverty
C) residual poverty
D) mass poverty

Question 38

Dinabi is unwilling to give to charity to help the poor because she believes that people who remain poor year after year have values, beliefs, and practices that ensure they will continue to be poor. Dinabi's beliefs are in line with __________.

A) the culture of wealth
B) class consciousness
C) false class consciousness
D) the culture of poverty

Question 39

The members of the Live Oak Country Club in Washington, D.C., include top military leaders, top political leaders, and owners of corporations. As such, the club is attended by the __________.

A) power elite
B) G-8
C) culture of wealth
D) bourgeoisie

Question 40

Rhonda can collect welfare for a maximum of five years due to the __________.

A) Workfare Release Program
B) Private Ownership Act
C) Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
D) Progressive Movement from Welfare to Work

Question 41

A social policy to help the poor is a Per Child Tax Credit, which is also known as __________.

A) residual income credit
B) a positive income level
C) a negative income tax
D) progressive taxation

Question 42

Julie pays a portion of her paycheck into Social Security each week. Once she is 65, she will have access to the money that she has contributed. This reflects __________.

A) welfare
B) social insurance
C) workfare
D) Medicare

Question 43

In a debate about taxes, Mark argues that the rich already pay a disproportionate amount of the overall taxes and that we should not tax them at a higher rate just because they make more money. He is arguing against __________.

A) political colonialism
B) economic colonialism
C) cold war
D) progressive taxation

Question 44

Assuming that the causes of poverty lie __________ the individual, leads to policies such as education and social reform.

A) outside
B) genetically with
C) within
D) in the religion of

Question 45

The proposal to give all citizens a set amount of money in order to eliminate poverty is known as __________.

A) the culture of poverty
B) the culture of wealth
C) universal basic income
D) economic colonialism

Question 46

Discuss the poverty line and explain its limitations.

Question 47

Use your theories to analyze and explain how poverty impacts education.

Question 48

What did Henslin find in his research about the homeless? What types are there? In your opinion, which of the homeless could most easily be transitioned to housing through the use of policy? Use theories to back up your answer.

Question 49

What are some rules for avoiding poverty and also for developing a more financially secure life? How does the practical, empirically informed advice in the text match up with conflict theory?

Question 50

Compare and contrast the idea of the power elite with that of the pluralist view of power.