Question 1

Which of the following abilities has been demonstrated to be biologically based?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 2

Jillian walks into the cafeteria as her friend Peter is telling a racist joke.What does Peter's behaviour illustrate?

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

What do we call an attitude about a group of people based on some preconceived ideas about the group's real or imagined characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Prejudice refers to attitudes and beliefs that are based on stereotypes about a particular group of people, without regard for individual differences or evidence to the contrary. It involves making assumptions about a group's real or imagined characteristics and applying them to individuals within that group.

Question 4

Based on the example of Professor Peter Sandiford,which of the following characterizes the position of many people whose beliefs are challenged by contrary evidence?

Accepted Answer

Many people tend to ignore or explain away findings that contradict their beliefs, rather than accepting the evidence and adjusting their beliefs accordingly. This is known as confirmation bias.

Question 5

Based on the textbook's discussion of race,why might some experts refer to it as "our most dangerous myth?"

Accepted Answer

Some experts refer to race as "our most dangerous myth" because people believe that significant racial differences exist, despite the fact that biologically, race is not a valid concept. This belief in racial differences has led to discrimination, prejudice, and even genocide in the past, making it a dangerous and harmful myth.

Question 6

Why is the level of participation of people with African origins relatively high in sports and entertainment?

Accepted Answer

People with African origins may have higher participation in sports and entertainment due to limited access to other opportunities for social and economic mobility, often influenced by systemic inequalities and historical factors.

Question 7

Robert hates competing in the math competition at school when there are a lot of Asian competitors because he believes they are innately much better at math.What does Robert's attitude illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Robert's attitude illustrates prejudice, which is a negative attitude or belief towards a particular group of people based on their perceived characteristics. In this case, Robert believes that Asians are innately better at math, which is a stereotype and a form of prejudice. Discrimination and scapegoating are related but different concepts. Discrimination involves treating people unfairly based on their membership in a particular group, while scapegoating involves blaming a particular group for societal problems. Authoritarianism is a political attitude characterized by a desire for order and control, which is not relevant to the situation described in the question.

Question 8

What conclusion does the textbook reach regarding "race"?

Accepted Answer

The textbook concludes that "race" is significant because people believe that it is and act toward others on the basis of their beliefs. Although there is no biological basis for race, the social construct of race has real consequences in society.

Question 9

Which of the following can be concluded about genetic differences between races?

Accepted Answer

Recent genetic research shows that genetic mixing is widespread, making it difficult to categorize humans into distinct races based on genetics.

Question 10

According to the textbook,what was the intention of the movie Crash?

Accepted Answer

The intention of the movie Crash was to expose racism as it really is, without the overlay of political correctness. The movie portrays different characters from different backgrounds and shows how their prejudices and biases lead to misjudgments and misunderstandings. It does not present a sanitized or politically correct view of racism but instead shows the harsh reality of it.

Question 11

Approximately what percentage of Canadians reported having more than one ethnic identity on the 2006 census?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Approximately what percentage of Canadians reported having...

Question 12

Which social processes was Dr.Samuel George Morton's research on brain size and race used to justify?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Morton's research on brain size and race was used to justify colonization and slavery, as he claimed that certain races had smaller brains and were therefore inferior and better suited for servitude. This supported the ideology of white superiority and justified the subjugation of people of color.

Question 13

Janet,a white woman,is walking down the street by her house and notices a large dark-skinned man walking toward her on the sidewalk.Frightened,she swiftly crosses the road away from him.
What does Janet's behaviour illustrate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Janet,a white woman,is walking down the street...

Question 14

What does the fact that Italians,Jews,and Irish people were considered "blacks" by many people a hundred years ago suggest?

Accepted Answer

The fact that people of Italian, Jewish, and Irish descent were considered "blacks" a hundred years ago suggests that distinctions based on race are arbitrary, socially constructed, and transitory. This highlights the idea that race is a social construct rather than a biological fact, and it is subject to historical and cultural influences. It also suggests that people in the past used race as a way to differentiate and exclude certain groups based on arbitrary characteristics, rather than any real biological differences.

Question 15

Which of the following is factual regarding brain size and race?

Accepted Answer

Skull size can often provide clues about the sex of a person, as males generally have larger skulls than females. However, skull size and shape are not reliable indicators of racial background.

Question 16

Which of the following is a critique that is missing from the research on IQ tests and race?

Accepted Answer

IQ tests have been criticized for being culturally biased, as they often reflect the knowledge and experiences more common to certain groups, potentially disadvantaging others.

Question 17

What do we call practices or actions toward people based on their real or imagined group membership?

Accepted Answer

Discrimination refers to the unfair treatment of individuals based on their group membership, whether the categorization is real or perceived. It could also be based on physical differences, age, gender, religion, and race, among others. Prejudice and racism refer to the attitudes or beliefs held towards certain groups, while scapegoating involves blaming individuals or groups for problems that they did not cause. Discrimination is an action that results from prejudice and bigotry.

Question 18

Jason's mother is from Singapore and his father is Irish Canadian.When Jason reports having multiple ethnic identities on his census questionnaire,he responds the same as approximately what percentage of other Canadians?

Accepted Answer

According to Statistics Canada, approximately 40% of Canadians report having multiple ethnic identities on their census questionnaire, similar to Jason.

Question 19

The Simpsons rent their basement suite out to a young Aboriginal couple and,although the couple seems nice and have good references,the Simpsons worry that they will come home one day to find the tenants have moved out and left the rent unpaid.What are the Simpsons demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

The Simpsons are demonstrating prejudice by assuming that the Aboriginal couple will not pay their rent without any evidence to support this belief.

Question 20

Why did Dr.Samuel George Morton's research on brain size and race have such long-lasting and far-reaching effects?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Samuel George Morton's research on brain size and race had long-lasting and far-reaching effects because it reinforced and perpetuated dominant ideas about inferiority and superiority. His work was used to justify discriminatory policies and practices towards marginalized groups, and his research was widely cited for decades after his death.

Answer: C 
 Another reason why Dr. Morton's research had lasting effects was that his findings replicated, and finally demonstrated conclusively, the results of earlier studies. His cranial measurements provided quantitative data that scientists and scholars of the time could use to support their preexisting biases and beliefs about race.

Quiz 10: Race and Ethnicity