Question 1

______________ is the hierarchical arrangement of large social groups based on the control over basic resources.

Accepted Answer

Social stratification refers to the way societies place people into a hierarchy based on factors like wealth, occupation, education, and social status. This hierarchy determines the amount of power, privilege, and access to resources individuals have within society.

Question 2

______________ are anything valued in a society,ranging from money and property to medical care and education.They are considered to be scarce because of unequal distribution among social categories.

Accepted Answer

Resources are anything valued in a society and can range from money and property to medical care and education. They are considered scarce due to uneven distribution among social categories. Assets refer specifically to owned property or resources, while prospects and opportunities refer to potential future possibilities rather than tangible goods or services.

Question 3

______________ is the movement of individuals or groups from one level in a stratification system to another.This movement can be either upward or downward.

Accepted Answer

Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups from one level in a stratification system to another, and it can be either upward or downward. A is incorrect because social movement refers to collective actions taken by a group of people to bring about social change. B is incorrect because unilateral generational mobility refers to a one-way movement of individuals or groups from one generation to the next in a stratification system, such as when children inherit their parents' social status. C is incorrect because open system movement is not a commonly used term in sociology.

Question 4

Why is inequality growing in the United States? According to symbolic interactionists,the answer lies in the concept of competition-differing rewards provide motivation for some people to work harder and achieve more.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionists focus on the meanings and interpretations individuals give to social interactions, rather than structural factors like competition and rewards, which are more aligned with conflict theory or functionalism.

Question 5

According to functionalist sociologists Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore,all societies have important tasks that must be accomplished and certain positions that must be filled.In addition,some positions are more important for the survival of society than others and the most important positions must be filled by the most qualified people.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately reflects the functionalist perspective on the importance of social roles and the need for qualified individuals to fill them.

Question 6

The______________system is an extreme form of stratification in which some people are owned by others.It is a closed system in which people are treated as property and have little or no control over their lives.

Accepted Answer

Slavery is the extreme form of stratification in which people are treated as property and have little or no control over their lives. It is a closed system in which some people are owned by others. Union refers to a group of workers who unite to negotiate for better working conditions and wages. Class and caste are forms of social stratification but they do not involve owning people as property.

Question 7

Native Americans are among the most severely disadvantaged persons in the United States.Some analysts estimate Native American poverty rates to be as high as 25 percent.

Accepted Answer

Native Americans do indeed have high poverty rates, with some estimates putting it as high as 25 percent.

Question 8

Social movement experienced by family members from one generation to the next is:

Accepted Answer

Intergenerational mobility refers to the change in social class status experienced by family members from one generation to the next. It is a measure of the extent to which parents' social status determines that of their children.

Question 9

About two-thirds of all adults living in poverty are women.Sociologist Diana Pearce coined the term "feminization of poverty" which refers to the trend in which women are disproportionately represented among individuals living in poverty.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Diana Pearce's concept of "feminization of poverty" refers to the fact that women are disproportionately affected by poverty, with about two-thirds of all adults living in poverty being women.

Question 10

As practiced in the United States,which of the following was NOT a characteristic of slavery?

Accepted Answer

Slaves were not considered to be human beings as well as property in the United States. They were legally defined as property and had no rights or freedoms.

Question 11

According to the text,India's caste system is based in part on______________,while the caste system of South Africa was based on______________.

Accepted Answer

India's caste system is traditionally based on occupation, while South Africa's caste-like system, known as apartheid, was based on racial classification.

Question 12

Sociologists believe that inequality is harmful for society.

Accepted Answer

Sociologists have diverse perspectives; some argue inequality can motivate progress, while others see it as harmful.

Question 13

A______________is a system of social inequality in which people's status is permanently determined at birth based on their parent's ascribed status.It is a closed system of stratification.

Accepted Answer

The caste system is a closed system of social inequality where an individual's social status is fixed at birth and is based on their parent's ascribed status. This system is prevalent in societies like India, where people are divided into different castes, and this determines their occupation, social status, and even who they can marry. The caste system is rigid and offers no chance of social mobility or upward mobility, unlike other systems like the class system or the slavery system.

Question 14

Systems of stratification are characterized by different hierarchical structures and varying degrees of mobility.All of the following are systems of stratification EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

There is no such system of stratification as "profile." The other three choices (slavery, caste, and class) are examples of systems of stratification.

Question 15

The social movement of individuals within their own lifetime is called:

Accepted Answer

Intragenerational mobility refers to the social movement of individuals within their own lifetime. Intergenerational mobility refers to the social mobility across different generations. Structural mobility refers to changes in the social structure, such as shifts in the job market or education system, that affect social mobility for everyone. Exchange mobility is a theoretical concept that suggests individuals are not actually changing their social positions, but rather they are swapping places with others who are moving in the opposite direction.

Question 16

Sarah's father is a carpenter who makes good wages in good economic times,but is unemployed when the construction industry slows to a standstill.Sarah becomes a neurologist,earning
$345,000 a year,and moves from the working class to the upper-middle class.Between her
Father's generation and her own,Sarah has experienced______________social mobility.

Accepted Answer

Sarah has moved up in social class from the working class to the upper-middle class, indicating upward social mobility.

Question 17

One of the most important characteristics of systems of stratification is their degree of flexibility.In a closed system of stratification:

Accepted Answer

In a closed system of stratification, there is little or no social mobility, meaning that people's positions are largely determined by the circumstances of their birth (ascribed status) rather than by their personal achievements or efforts (achieved status). This lack of mobility is what makes the system closed, and it tends to reinforce existing inequalities over time. Examples of closed systems of stratification include caste systems and some forms of slavery. Therefore, option B is the correct choice.

Question 18

RaShandra began her career as a high-tech factory worker.Through increased experience and by taking specialized courses in her field,she became an entrepreneur and started her own highly successful "dot­com" business.RaShandra's advancement is an example of______________mobility.

Accepted Answer

Intragenerational mobility refers to an individual's social or economic movement within their own lifetime. RaShandra's advancement from a factory worker to owning her own successful business is an example of intragenerational mobility.

Question 19

Sociologist Max Weber's term,______________,addresses how much access individuals have to important societal resources such as food,clothing,shelter,education,and health care.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber's term "life chances" refers to an individual's access to societal resources that greatly affect their quality of life, such as education, healthcare, and basic needs like food and shelter. This concept highlights how an individual's social and economic position can greatly impact their opportunities and outcomes in life.

Question 20

One of the most important characteristics of systems of stratification is their degree of flexibility.In an open system of stratification:

Accepted Answer

In an open system of stratification, people's positions are influenced by achieved statuses. This means that individuals have the ability to move up or down in the social hierarchy based on their individual accomplishments and qualifications, rather than being solely determined by their ascribed statuses such as their race, gender, or family background. This flexibility allows for social mobility and opportunities for individuals to improve their social and economic standing.

Quiz 8: Class and Stratification in the United States

______________ is the hierarchical arrangement of large social groups based on the control over basic resources.

______________ are anything valued in a society,ranging from money and property to medical care and education.They are considered to be scarce because of unequal distribution among social categories.

______________ is the movement of individuals or groups from one level in a stratification system to another.This movement can be either upward or downward.

Why is inequality growing in the United States? According to symbolic interactionists,the answer lies in the concept of competition-differing rewards provide motivation for some people to work harder and achieve more.

The______________system is an extreme form of stratification in which some people are owned by others.It is a closed system in which people are treated as property and have little or no control over their lives.

Native Americans are among the most severely disadvantaged persons in the United States.Some analysts estimate Native American poverty rates to be as high as 25 percent.

Social movement experienced by family members from one generation to the next is:

About two-thirds of all adults living in poverty are women.Sociologist Diana Pearce coined the term "feminization of poverty" which refers to the trend in which women are disproportionately represented among individuals living in poverty.

As practiced in the United States,which of the following was NOT a characteristic of slavery?

According to the text,India's caste system is based in part on,while the caste system of South Africa was based on.

Sociologists believe that inequality is harmful for society.

A______________is a system of social inequality in which people's status is permanently determined at birth based on their parent's ascribed status.It is a closed system of stratification.

Systems of stratification are characterized by different hierarchical structures and varying degrees of mobility.All of the following are systems of stratification EXCEPT:

The social movement of individuals within their own lifetime is called:

One of the most important characteristics of systems of stratification is their degree of flexibility.In a closed system of stratification:

RaShandra began her career as a high-tech factory worker.Through increased experience and by taking specialized courses in her field,she became an entrepreneur and started her own highly successful "dotcom" business.RaShandra's advancement is an example of______________mobility.

Sociologist Max Weber's term,______________,addresses how much access individuals have to important societal resources such as food,clothing,shelter,education,and health care.

One of the most important characteristics of systems of stratification is their degree of flexibility.In an open system of stratification:

Quiz 8: Class and Stratification in the United States

______________ is the hierarchical arrangement of large social groups based on the control over basic resources.

______________ are anything valued in a society,ranging from money and property to medical care and education.They are considered to be scarce because of unequal distribution among social categories.

______________ is the movement of individuals or groups from one level in a stratification system to another.This movement can be either upward or downward.

Why is inequality growing in the United States? According to symbolic interactionists,the answer lies in the concept of competition-differing rewards provide motivation for some people to work harder and achieve more.

The______________system is an extreme form of stratification in which some people are owned by others.It is a closed system in which people are treated as property and have little or no control over their lives.

Native Americans are among the most severely disadvantaged persons in the United States.Some analysts estimate Native American poverty rates to be as high as 25 percent.

Social movement experienced by family members from one generation to the next is:

About two-thirds of all adults living in poverty are women.Sociologist Diana Pearce coined the term "feminization of poverty" which refers to the trend in which women are disproportionately represented among individuals living in poverty.

As practiced in the United States,which of the following was NOT a characteristic of slavery?

According to the text,India's caste system is based in part on______________,while the caste system of South Africa was based on______________.

Sociologists believe that inequality is harmful for society.

A______________is a system of social inequality in which people's status is permanently determined at birth based on their parent's ascribed status.It is a closed system of stratification.

Systems of stratification are characterized by different hierarchical structures and varying degrees of mobility.All of the following are systems of stratification EXCEPT:

The social movement of individuals within their own lifetime is called:

One of the most important characteristics of systems of stratification is their degree of flexibility.In a closed system of stratification:

RaShandra began her career as a high-tech factory worker.Through increased experience and by taking specialized courses in her field,she became an entrepreneur and started her own highly successful "dot­com" business.RaShandra's advancement is an example of______________mobility.

Sociologist Max Weber's term,______________,addresses how much access individuals have to important societal resources such as food,clothing,shelter,education,and health care.

One of the most important characteristics of systems of stratification is their degree of flexibility.In an open system of stratification:

According to the text,India's caste system is based in part on,while the caste system of South Africa was based on.

RaShandra began her career as a high-tech factory worker.Through increased experience and by taking specialized courses in her field,she became an entrepreneur and started her own highly successful "dotcom" business.RaShandra's advancement is an example of______________mobility.