Question 1

Statement I: Welfare and food stamps raise nearly half of all poor families above the poverty line.
Statement II: Monthly public assistance grants vary considerably from state-to-state.

Accepted Answer

Statement I is false because welfare and food stamps, while helpful, do not raise nearly half of all poor families above the poverty line. The impact varies widely and depends on many factors, including the size of the family, other income, and specific state policies. Statement II is true because there is significant variation in the amount of public assistance grants provided by different states, reflecting differences in state policies, cost of living, and other factors.

Question 2

Statement I: The earned income tax credit is a form of redistributing income to the working poor.
Statement II: Although they are very visible,there are probably less than one million homeless people in the U.S.

Accepted Answer

Statement I is true as the earned income tax credit is a program designed to provide assistance to low-income working families, which can be considered a form of redistributing income. However, statement II is false as the estimated number of homeless people in the U.S. is over 500,000, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Therefore, choice A is the best answer.

Question 3

Each of the following is a provision of the 1996 welfare reform law except that

Accepted Answer

The answer of Each of the following is a provision...

Question 4

Statement I: In 2008 the official poverty line for a family of four was $22,025.
Statement II: The poverty rate in 2009 was 13.2%.

Accepted Answer

Statement I is true according to the official poverty line in 2008. Statement II is also true according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which reported a poverty rate of 13.2% in 2009. Therefore, both statements are true.

Question 5

In which one of these years was the U.S.poverty rate the lowest?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. poverty rate was the lowest in 1973, reaching a historic low after a period of economic prosperity and the impact of social programs from the 1960s.

Question 6

Statement I: If non-cash benefits like food stamps and Medicaid were counted as income,the poverty rate would be about three points lower.
Statement II: Conservatives believe that the poverty rate understates the true amount of poverty in the U.S.

Accepted Answer

Statement I is true, as non-cash benefits would increase a family's purchasing power and decrease their reliance on income. Statement II is false, as many conservatives argue that the poverty rate is overstated due to the inclusion of non-cash benefits and government assistance.

Question 7

Statement I: The net worth of the top one % of American households is greater than the net worth of the bottom 90%
Statement II: The poverty rate in 2008 was 13.2%.

Accepted Answer

Statement I is true as wealth inequality in the United States has been a significant issue, with the top 1% holding a disproportionate amount of wealth compared to the rest of the population. Statement II is also true; according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the official poverty rate in 2008 was indeed 13.2%.

Question 8

Statement I: Welfare rolls are currently at their highest in ten years.
Statement II: About half of Americans receive food stamps by the time they reach 20.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Statement I: Welfare rolls are currently at...

Question 9

Each of the following is a provision of the 1996 welfare reform law except that

Accepted Answer

The 1996 welfare reform law did include provisions to limit lifetime welfare benefits to five years, to give states a lump sum to run their own welfare and work programs, and to ban future legal immigrants from welfare assistance. However, it did not include a provision to remove any adult found guilty of a felony from the welfare rolls.

Question 10

What percentage of American families pay more payroll tax than they pay in income tax?

Accepted Answer

According to a report by the Tax Policy Center, approximately 75% of American households pay more in payroll taxes (such as Social Security and Medicare) than they do in federal income taxes. This is often because payroll taxes are a flat percentage of income, while income taxes are calculated based on taxable income and can be reduced through deductions and credits.

Question 11

Over _______% of Americans live below the poverty line.

Accepted Answer

According to the latest data from the US Census Bureau, in 2019, 10.5% of Americans were below the poverty line. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this number may have increased in 2020. Therefore, option C) 13% is the closest estimate to the current situation. Options A, B, D, and E are not the best choices, as they either underestimate or overestimate the poverty rate.

Question 12

Statement I: There are at least 10 Americans with fortunes of over $17 billion.
Statement II: The Walmart inheritors net worth is over $80 billion.

Accepted Answer

As of my last update, there are indeed more than 10 Americans with fortunes exceeding $17 billion, making Statement I true. The Walton family, who are the inheritors of Walmart's fortune, collectively have a net worth that significantly exceeds $80 billion, making Statement II also true.

Question 13

Statement I: The poverty line was higher in 2008 than it was in 1999.
Statement II: There are more poor white Americans than poor black Americans.

Accepted Answer

Both statements are true. The poverty line, which is adjusted for inflation, generally increases over time, reflecting the rising cost of living. As for the second statement, while the poverty rate is higher among black Americans than white Americans, the total number of poor white Americans exceeds that of poor black Americans due to the larger overall population size of white Americans.

Question 14

Statement I: The highest income quintile received about half of all income in 2008.
Statement II: Between 1968 and 2008 the percentage of income received by the highest quintile increased by almost 10 percent.

Accepted Answer

Both statements are true. The highest income quintile, or the top 20% of earners, has historically received a disproportionate share of total income, with this share increasing over time. Data from various sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, confirm that the highest quintile's share of income has grown, supporting the accuracy of both statements.

Question 15

Statement I: In the mid-1990s,before the passage of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996,our poverty rate was the highest in history.
Statement II: The welfare rolls began falling two years before the passage of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996.

Accepted Answer

Statement I is false because the poverty rate in the mid-1990s was not the highest in history. In fact, the poverty rate was higher in the 1960s and 1970s. However, Statement II is true because the welfare rolls began to decline in the mid-1990s, even before the passage of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. This decline was due to a combination of factors, including improvements in the economy and changes in state welfare policies.

Question 16

Statement I: The poverty rate for blacks and Hispanics is almost triple that of whites.
Statement II: There are no more than 250,000 homeless in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Statement I is true and is supported by statistical data. According to the US Census Bureau, the poverty rate for blacks and Hispanics is almost triple that of non-Hispanic whites. However, Statement II is false. The number of homeless people in the United States is estimated to be over half a million, according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Therefore, Choice A is the correct answer.

Question 17

About ____ of the world's population subsists on no more than $2 a day.

Accepted Answer

The answer of About ____ of the world's population subsists...

Question 18

Statement I: Our largest poverty group is the elderly.
Statement II: Most black Americans are poor.

Accepted Answer

Both statements are false. The largest poverty group is not the elderly, thanks to social security and other retirement benefits. Additionally, while black Americans experience higher poverty rates than some other demographic groups, it is not accurate to say that most black Americans are poor.

Question 19

In which of these years was the U.S.poverty rate the highest?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. poverty rate was highest in 1960, before many of the social programs aimed at reducing poverty were implemented in the 1960s and 1970s.

Question 20

Statement I: Because of the Great Recession of 2008,our poverty rate is now at an eleven year high.
Statement II: One child in every six lives below the poverty line.

Accepted Answer

Both statements are true. Statement I refers to the overall poverty rate being at an 11-year high due to the Great Recession of 2008, while statement II highlights the specific statistic that one in every six children lives below the poverty line.

Quiz 30: Income Distribution and Poverty

Statement I: Welfare and food stamps raise nearly half of all poor families above the poverty line. Statement II: Monthly public assistance grants vary considerably from state-to-state.

Statement I: The earned income tax credit is a form of redistributing income to the working poor. Statement II: Although they are very visible,there are probably less than one million homeless people in the U.S.

Each of the following is a provision of the 1996 welfare reform law except that

Statement I: In 2008 the official poverty line for a family of four was $22,025. Statement II: The poverty rate in 2009 was 13.2%.

In which one of these years was the U.S.poverty rate the lowest?

Statement I: If non-cash benefits like food stamps and Medicaid were counted as income,the poverty rate would be about three points lower. Statement II: Conservatives believe that the poverty rate understates the true amount of poverty in the U.S.

Statement I: The net worth of the top one % of American households is greater than the net worth of the bottom 90% Statement II: The poverty rate in 2008 was 13.2%.

Statement I: Welfare rolls are currently at their highest in ten years. Statement II: About half of Americans receive food stamps by the time they reach 20.

Each of the following is a provision of the 1996 welfare reform law except that

What percentage of American families pay more payroll tax than they pay in income tax?

Over _______% of Americans live below the poverty line.

Statement I: There are at least 10 Americans with fortunes of over $17 billion. Statement II: The Walmart inheritors net worth is over $80 billion.

Statement I: The poverty line was higher in 2008 than it was in 1999. Statement II: There are more poor white Americans than poor black Americans.

Statement I: The highest income quintile received about half of all income in 2008. Statement II: Between 1968 and 2008 the percentage of income received by the highest quintile increased by almost 10 percent.

Statement I: In the mid-1990s,before the passage of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996,our poverty rate was the highest in history. Statement II: The welfare rolls began falling two years before the passage of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996.

Statement I: The poverty rate for blacks and Hispanics is almost triple that of whites. Statement II: There are no more than 250,000 homeless in the United States.

About ____ of the world's population subsists on no more than $2 a day.

Statement I: Our largest poverty group is the elderly. Statement II: Most black Americans are poor.

In which of these years was the U.S.poverty rate the highest?

Statement I: Because of the Great Recession of 2008,our poverty rate is now at an eleven year high. Statement II: One child in every six lives below the poverty line.