Question 1

Which of the following children of poverty is most likely to perform well in school?

Accepted Answer

Research shows that having high expectations from teachers can positively impact the academic performance of children living in poverty. Calling on Jeb frequently and expressing high expectations for his academic performance can motivate him to perform well in school. The other options either provide minimal support or negative reinforcement for academic success.

Question 2

Dana is nervous about the upcoming physics exam.She is the only girl in the class and has achieved higher scores on the assignments than most of the boys in class.She knows the boys think they're smarter and better at applying principles of physics.In this situation,Dana's nervousness is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Dana's nervousness in this situation is an example of stereotype threat, where she is worried that her performance may confirm negative stereotypes held about her group (in this case, female students) by the dominant group (in this case, male students). This can cause anxiety and lower performance, even if the individual is otherwise capable.

Question 3

Ms.Dominguez is the principal in a secondary school in an impoverished community.All students in her school come from low-income or poverty level families.What advice should Ms.Dominguez give her teachers to improve the effectiveness of teaching these students?

Accepted Answer

Setting high expectations and maintaining high standards is crucial for the success of students from low-income or poverty level families. It is important for these students to believe that they can achieve at the same level as their peers, so they are not limited by stereotypical assumptions about their abilities. Teachers should provide extra support and resources to help these students succeed and bridge any academic gaps they may have. Giving up on or underestimating these students only perpetuates the cycle of poverty and limits their potential for success.

Question 4

Chet,the seven-year-old son of Thai parents,is growing up in a Thai community in a large metro area.His family is poor and most of his friends come from poor families.Based on statistics,why is Chet less likely than children from wealthier families to succeed academically?

Accepted Answer

Children from lower-income families often experience a "summer slide," losing academic ground during the summer months when they are not in school, unlike their wealthier peers who may have access to enriching summer activities and resources.

Question 5

Mr.Thibodaux teaches in a large middle school with students from all socioeconomic levels and a wide range of racial and ethnic diversity.He is examining the standardized test scores of his students in an effort to determine their areas of strength and weakness.If his students represent national averages,where will he find the greatest gaps in academic achievement?

Accepted Answer

National data has consistently shown that there is a significant achievement gap between students from low-income families and those from high-income families. This achievement gap can manifest in various areas, including standardized test scores. Therefore, Mr. Thibodaux is likely to find the greatest gaps in academic achievement between the scores of wealthy and poor students in his middle school. Although there may be other gaps between different racial and ethnic groups, the socioeconomic gap tends to have more significant implications on overall academic achievement.

Question 6

Mr.Chavez teaches high school science.During the first week of school,he describes the diversity among his students.Which description is stereotypical?

Accepted Answer

The description of the Asian American girl as "probably a model student" is stereotypical because it assumes that all Asian American students are high-achieving and academically focused. This stereotype is not only untrue but also harmful as it can lead to unfair expectations and pressure on Asian American students to perform at high levels.

Question 7

Mrs.Kahn's science text includes numerous references to male scientists and their contributions to scientific knowledge,but very few female scientists.For each unit of study in her curriculum,Mrs.Kahn researches and identifies female scientists to highlight in her teaching.This illustration about Mrs.Kahn's text most directly demonstrates:

Accepted Answer

The fact that Mrs.Kahn's science text includes numerous references to male scientists and their contributions to scientific knowledge, but very few female scientists, shows a gender bias. Mrs.Kahn's efforts to research and identify female scientists to highlight in her teaching are a step towards addressing this bias.

Question 8

Ayo's parents are from Nigeria,but emigrated to the U.S.before Ayo was born.Ayo's dad is a medical doctor in a Houston suburb,and his mom has an art gallery in the city.Ayo attends an elite private high school and is one of the top players on his school's basketball team.Based on this information,what is the best description of Ayo's cultural ties?

Accepted Answer

Ayo's cultural ties encompass his Nigerian heritage through his parents, American culture by birth and upbringing, the upper-class lifestyle indicated by attending an elite private school and his parents' professions, and basketball culture through his involvement in the sport.

Question 9

Juanita is from a low-SES family.Her friends are also from low-SES families,though most of their peers are from middle class families.Jerita has decided that school is a dead end and does not want to succeed academically.Her Spanish teacher believes Juanita could make high grades in Spanish and some of her other classes.The teacher encourages Juanita to turn in homework and raise her grades,but Juanita does not want to sell out and act like the middle class kids.She seems to have become part of:

Accepted Answer

Juanita's resistance to academic success and her association with low-SES friends suggest that she has become part of a resistance culture, where achievement in school is not valued and may even be seen as "selling out" to the middle class. This culture may be self-imposed, as Juanita has internalized the values and beliefs of her peers and community.

Question 10

Ms.McDonald is a White non-Hispanic high school English teacher.She assigns lower grades to the African American athletes in her class than she assigns for comparable work submitted by White students.Whether her behavior is intentional or unintentional,what is the most likely interpretation of Ms.McDonald's behavior?

Accepted Answer

Ms. McDonald's behavior exhibits bias or prejudice against African American athletes. Her actions are not based on academic performance but instead are based on the students' racial identity and involvement in athletics. This behavior is not acceptable and is a form of discrimination.

Question 11

KT is a sixteen-year-old girl who describes herself as someone who loves sports,sees herself as less feminine than the other girls,and hangs out with the jocks at school.This self-description is directly associated with her:

Accepted Answer

KT's self-description refers to her sense of gender identity, specifically how she perceives herself as less feminine than other girls and how she relates to the jocks at school. Sexual orientation refers to one's romantic or sexual attraction to others, while sexual identity and sex both refer to one's biological characteristics.

Question 12

What was the outcome of the famous 1954 case of Brown v.Board of Education of Topeka?

Accepted Answer

The famous 1954 case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka ruled that segregated schooling for Black children was illegal. This landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court declared that segregation in public education was a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. This ruling marked a significant victory for the civil rights movement and helped pave the way for further progress in desegregation and equal opportunities for Black Americans.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of the invisible influence of culture?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding direct eye contact is a gesture of respect in Native American culture, which may not be understood or practiced in other cultures. This shows how culture can influence behavior even in subtle ways that may not be immediately visible or recognizable to outsiders. The other choices involve visible and more overt expressions of cultural influence.

Question 14

A group of people constructs a program for living and communicates the program,its values,norms,traditions,self-definitions,and rules to its members.This program for living is the group's:

Accepted Answer

The program for living, including values, norms, traditions, self-definitions, and rules, constitutes the culture of the group. Culture encompasses the patterns of behavior and beliefs that characterize a group or society and distinguishes it from others. Therefore, option D, culture, is the most accurate description of the group's program for living.

Question 15

A societal designation of upper,middle,working,or lower class based on income,power,background,and prestige is called:

Accepted Answer

The term for this societal designation is socioeconomic status (SES), which takes into account a person's income, educational attainment, occupation, and social standing. This classification is often used in academic research to study how socioeconomic factors impact health, education, and other outcomes.

Question 16

Mr.Gloster teaches high school and observes the long-term effects of stereotype threat with various groups of students in his classes.He wants to prevent their disidentification with academics and help them overcome this threat.Which of the following actions on his part is most likely to help him reach his goal?

Accepted Answer

Introducing role models who have succeeded in academics from the same ethnic, racial, or gender group can help students see that academic achievement is part of their identity and break the stereotype threat. This can inspire students to identify with academics and overcome the fear of confirming the negative stereotypes about their group's academic abilities. Options A, B, and C are not effective because they either reinforce the stereotype threat or do not address the underlying issue.

Question 17

Discrimination is one of the elements of prejudice.Discrimination is the element of prejudice that deals with a person's:

Accepted Answer

Discrimination refers to the actions, behaviors, or treatment that are unfair or unequal towards an individual or group based on their actual or perceived characteristics. Therefore, the best choice is A, as it directly deals with the actions and behaviors towards others. Choices B, C, and D refer to beliefs, attitudes, and impressions, which are the other elements of prejudice, but not specifically related to discrimination.

Question 18

It is the second day of school.Which of the following teachers appears to stereotype Hispanic students in his or her class?

Accepted Answer

Ms. Sims's comment to Gorge implies a low expectation based on a stereotype, suggesting surprise if he completes the problems, which can be interpreted as stereotyping.

Question 19

Approximately what percentage of children in the United States lives in low-income or poor families?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 45% of children in the United States live in low-income or poor families, highlighting significant economic challenges and disparities affecting a large portion of the youth population.

Question 20

Which of the following terms relates to shared cultural characteristics such as common history,religion,traditions,and language?

Accepted Answer

Ethnicity refers to shared cultural characteristics such as common history, religion, traditions, and language. Race, on the other hand, refers to physical characteristics such as skin color, while minority group refers to a group that has less power and privilege in society compared to the dominant group. Socioeconomic status (SES) refers to an individual's position in society based on income, education, and occupation.

Quiz 6: Culture and Diversity