Deck 4: Families and the Economic System

Question 1

The percentage of Americans in poverty __________ in the late 1990's and __________ since 2000.

A)declined ...has continued to decline
B)increased ...has continued to increase
C)declined ...has increased
D)increased ...has declined

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which group is most likely to be poor?

A)Children
B)Elderly
C)Women in their 30's.
D)Men in their 40's.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Aulette reported that Americans on average

A)decreased their debt in proportion to what they earn in the past 20 years.
B)spend almost exactly what they earn each year saving virtually nothing.
C)owe more than they earn per year.
D)owe about half of what they earn per year.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The average American family debt load has increased in the past fifty years.In 2007 debt was _____ percent of income for the average family.

A)32%
B)67%
C)100%
D)133%

Question 5

The Great U-turn refers to the

A)post-war economic growth that occurred in the 1950's.
B)economic reversal from the mid 1970's to the 1990's.
C)the transfer of the tax burden from individuals to corporations that occurred in the 1980's.
D)the increase in government spending on social services in the 1990's.

Question 6

The federal government funding program that provides subsidies to poor families to help with housing costs and gives money to programs that provide shelter,health care,or services for homeless people is referred to as

A)Section 8
B)Section 10
C)Program 99
D)Program 4385

Question 7

Race ethnicity,age,and household type influence an individual's chances of being poor.Which of the following groups has the highest rate of poverty according to the U.S.Census Bureau in 2009?

A)African Americans
B)Asian Americans
C)Hispanic Americans
D)European Americans

Question 8

The median percentage of family income contributed by working wives has increased in the past forty years.What is the approximate contribution determined by Bureau of Labor Statistics as reported in Aulette?

A)Slightly less than one-quarter (24%)
B)Slightly more than one-third (35%)
C)Slightly more than one-half (51%)
D)Slightly less than two-thirds (64%)

Question 9

Sociologists call the organization of the production and distribution of the necessities of life the __________ system.

A)economic
B)political
C)family
D)religious

Question 10

The types of jobs available to American workers have changed in the past quarter century.Which of the following best describes the change?

A)The jobs that were removed from the labor market paid better than the jobs that have been created.
B)The jobs that were removed from the labor market paid less than the jobs that have been created.
C)The jobs that are being created pay almost the same as the jobs that were removed from the labor market so workers have not been disadvantaged.
D)The jobs that are being created pay the same as the jobs that were removed from the labor market but require more skills so fewer people qualify for them and unskilled workers are disadvantaged.

Question 11

On average,workers who have lost their jobs report that their new jobs pay ________ and are ______ likely to provide health care benefits.

A)more ...more
B)less ...less
C)more ...less
D)less ...more

Question 12

According to the Census Bureau the poverty threshold for a single person is __________.It is __________ for a family of two and __________ for a family of three.

A)less than $11,000 ...less than $14,000 ...about $16,000
B)less than $15,000 ...about $20,000 ...about $25,000
C)about $20,000 ...about $25,000 ...about $30,000
D)about $25,000 ...about $28,000 ...about $30,000

Question 13

The economic growth experienced by the United States for almost thirty years after World War II (1945-1973)was a result of

A)the combination of a demand for goods from nations damaged by World War II and a relatively undamaged productive system in the U.S.
B)increased competition from other nations whose economies had expanded during the war.
C)the need to rebuild large sections of the U.S.damaged during the war.
D)the increase of investments flowing into the United States from western Europe.

Question 14

Aulette identified three strategies families use to maintain shelter despite the rising costs.All of the following are included EXCEPT:

A)Paying a larger proportion of their income for housing.
B)Finding cheaper housing.
C)Depending on the government for housing assistance.
D)Reliance upon extended family members.

Question 15

How are American families dealing with the current decline in the economy as discussed by Aulette?

A)By putting more family members into the paid labor force.
B)By increasing debt.
C)By going on welfare and getting food stamps.
D)A and B above.

Question 16

In 2001 there was about one job opening for every unemployed person.In 2009,there were ___________ unemployed workers for every job opening.

A)Two
B)Four
C)Six
D)Eight

Question 17

Race ethnicity,age,and household type influence our chances of being poor.Who of the following has the highest rate of poverty according to the U.S.Census Bureau?

A)Black children
B)Asian children
C)Hispanic children
D)White children

Question 18

According to Aulette,economists generally recommend that families should pay a maximum of _________ of their household income for housing and consider spending _________ or more excessive.

A)25% ...30%
B)35% ...40%
C)45% ...50%
D)55% ...60%

Question 19

Approximately what percent of Americans say they are concerned that they might lose their job?

A)12%
B)29%
C)48%
D)61%

Question 20

Textbook author Aulette asserts that the most important factor(s)in the creation of poverty and homelessness is/are

A)bad choices made by individuals.
B)bad luck.
C)structural changes in the economy.
D)crime,drugs,and alcohol.

Question 21

Many states use welfare hotels to provide emergency shelter for homeless families.Which of the following applies?

A)Welfare hotels are nicer than public housing so homeless families are reluctant to leave.
B)The state pays more to provide a single room without food storage or cooking facilities in a welfare hotel than they would pay to provide a permanent apartment to the same family.
C)Families in welfare hotels are split up.Parents live in one room while children sleep in a dormitory room with children from other families who are all supervised by a child care worker.
D)Welfare hotels only provide rooms to homeless families at 8 PM if they have not filled the rooms for that evening so families do not know if they have shelter until late.

Question 22

Aulette identified the "largest federal housing program" as

A)the use of welfare hotels for the poor.
B)"Section 10" housing in which the government subsidizes the rent payments which are determined by a sliding scale.
C)the tax deduction for mortgage interest payments and property taxes.
D)subsidies for corporations providing "free" housing for workers in lieu of higher wages.

Question 23

From 1977 to 2004,the share of national after-tax income ________ for those in the top 5% and ________ for those in the bottom 90%.

A)increased ...increased
B)decreased ...decreased
C)increased ...decreased
D)decreased ...increased

Question 24

Rubin (cited by Aulette)interviewed working-class people about the impact of their unemployment and layoffs.Which of the following did she find?

A)Unemployment gave a couple more time together which improved their intimacy and sex life.
B)The anxiety of unemployment had a negative impact on a couple's intimacy and sex life.
C)Unemployment did not impact couples' intimacy and sex relationship either positively or negatively.

Question 25

Living wage ordinances require

A)all employers in a given city to pay more than minimum wage.
B)employers who receive contracts or tax benefits from local governments to pay more than minimum wage.
C)employers to pay adults more than workers younger than 18.
D)employers to institute salary schedules so that workers will get annual increases in wages.

Question 26

Newman (cited by Aulette)studied the families of middle-class managers who had been downsized or laid off.She found that their initial response was

A)to express anger and frustration,sometimes at each other.
B)to start networking,telling friends about their situation in hopes of finding another job quickly.
C)to try to cover up their downward mobility and make it appear that nothing had changed.
D)to fantasize about a totally different career and consider returning to school.

Question 27

All of the following are true of the people who are buried in Potter's field,a cemetery for the poor people of New York City,EXCEPT:

A)Their bodies are buried in unmarked graves.
B)Twenty to thirty bodies are buried in each trench grave.
C)Family members are told the general location of the burial site so that they may visit.
D)After thirty years the graves are bulldozed under in order to make room for more bodies.

Question 28

The media presents an image of laid-off workers as passive victims.Researchers have found that this image is

A)an accurate one.
B)a half-truth because unemployed workers also describe structural sources of their economic difficulties.
C)wrong because unemployed workers articulate a clear understanding of structural changes in the economy as the reason for the layoffs.
D)wrong because unemployed workers blame politicians for their layoffs.

Question 29

Patricia Voydanoff (cited by Aulette)asserts that there are several mediating factors in a person's response to a layoff that can make the difference in a family's ability to cope.These mediating factors can be divided into two types:

A)internal and external.
B)family definition of the event and family resources.
C)personal and professional.
D)the self esteem of the person laid off and the quality of the relationships in the family.

Question 30

According to the report of the National Conference of Mayors,families with children

A)are not generally found among the homeless because we have subsidized housing for families with children.
B)constitute approximately 10% of the homeless.
C)constitute approximately 40% of the homeless.
D)constitute approximately 68% of the homeless.

Question 31

Personal bankruptcies have increased significantly in the past decade.Which of the following is true?

A)Recent changes in bankruptcy laws make it easier to get out of debt and are actually responsible for the increase in bankruptcies.
B)Recent changes in bankruptcy laws make it more difficult to get out of debt and require many to repay part of the debt.
C)Proposed changes in bankruptcy laws will make it easier to get out of debt.
D)Proposed changes in bankruptcy laws will make it more difficult to get out of debt.

Question 32

Families make up a large and growing proportion of the homeless.What is likely to happen if a homeless family seeks assistance?

A)The family is turned away since the shelters are not appropriate places for children.
B)The mother is sent to a women's shelter,the father is sent to a men's shelter,and the children may be removed from the parents' care and put into foster care.
C)The parents may be arrested for child endangerment,child neglect and for violating school attendance laws for children.
D)The family is usually offered a package of state-provided resources for the children (but not the parents)ranging from medical and dental care to educational tutoring.

Question 33

Patricia Voydanoff (cited by Aulette)asserts that there are several mediating factors in responding to a layoff that can make the difference in a family's ability to cope.A family is better able to cope when

A)the layoff is sudden without warning or anticipation.
B)they blame external or social structure factors and not the worker.
C)they perceive and accept the worker as a failure.
D)they know others in the same situation.

Question 34

In the past 20 years the proportion of private wealth owned by the wealthiest 1% of the population has _______ and the proportion of private wealth owned by the poorest 90% has _______ .

A)stayed the same ...stayed the same
B)increased … decreased
C)decreased … increased
D)varied with both increases and decreases depending on the ups and downs of the stock market ...varied with both increases and decreases depending on the rates of unemployment

Question 35

About ________ percent of people who are qualified receive Section 8 assistance,which provides subsidies to poor people to cover their housing costs.

A)5%
B)10%
C)25%
D)50%

Question 36

The majority (53%)of the tax cuts since 2000 have gone to the _______ income bracket.

A)top 10%
B)middle 50%
C)bottom 50%
D)bottom 10%

Question 37

Patricia Voydanoff (cited by Aulette)asserts that there are several mediating factors in responding to a layoff that can make the difference in a family's ability to cope.All of the following are components of family definition of the event EXCEPT:

A)The suddenness or anticipation of the layoff.
B)Assessment of responsibility.
C)Sense of failure.
D)Comparison with friends.

Question 38

From 1980 to the present time government subsidization of housing

A)grew for all income groups.
B)diminished for all income groups.
C)grew for wealthy people and diminished for poor people.
D)grew for poor people and diminished for wealthy people.

Question 39

Patricia Voydanoff (cited by Aulette)asserts that there are several mediating factors in responding to a layoff that can make the difference in a family's ability to cope.The family is better able to cope when the family

A)has some financial resources to buffer the loss of income.
B)enjoys a sense of cohesion and adaptability.
C)has social or community support.
D)does all of the above.

Question 40

Research cited by Aulette documented the impact of job layoffs on blue-collar families including economic,social-psychological,and marital difficulties.Which of the following is true?

A)While the layoff was initially traumatic emotionally,most workers adjusted and social-psychological difficulties decreased in a few weeks.
B)Most men started off optimistically thinking they would find other jobs but real social-psychological suffering began as the weeks went by.
C)Most workers were emotionally stable over time getting neither better or worse over time.
D)Almost half of the workers were glad to take a break from work and collect unemployment for several months.

Question 41

According to textbook author Aulette,the Agricultural Revolution

A)lasted about 500 years from 1200's to the late 1700's.
B)resulted in the establishment of nations as well as the invention of money,calendars,writing and math.
C)produced the first wars.
D)established monogamy as the most efficient family form.

Question 42

According to textbook author Aulette,the Industrial Revolution

A)pushed people off the land into cities and factories establishing a system of wages replacing barter.
B)resulted in the establishment of nations as well as the invention of money,calendars,writing and math.
C)produced the first wars.
D)developed simultaneously with the Agricultural Revolution produced surplus food beyond subsistence levels.

Question 43

Aulette asserted that which of the following was the most significant in the development of the Postindustrial Revolution?

A)The expansion of industrial capitalism throughout the world.
B)Increased investment by U.S.businesses in other countries which moves jobs from the United States to such places as Central America and Asia.
C)The shift in the economy from manufacturing to information and services which leaves many workers unskilled in the new jobs.
D)The development of microelectronics,computers,and robotics.

Question 44

Aulette asserts,"We may now be at another monumental turning point in the economic,and thus social,organization of humanity." All of the following helped to create such a turning point EXCEPT:

A)Expansion of socialism and communism in the world with increased dependence on U.S.businesses based in capitalism.
B)Increased investment by U.S.businesses in other countries which moves jobs form the United States to places like Mexico and Central America.
C)A shift in the economy from manufacturing to information and services,which leaves may workers unskilled to perform the jobs that are being created.
D)The development of microelectronics,computers,and robotics.

Question 45

A 1999 research report on the impact of a Living Wage Ordinance in Baltimore found that

A)it caused job loss.
B)cost increase to the city was significantly above inflation.
C)it decreased competitiveness and raised contract cost on contract bids.
D)non-compliance by employers was a significant problem.

Question 46

Aulette predicts that the electronic revolution with computers,robots and automation will ________ the flow of goods and services with ____________ in the amount of work required by humans.

A)increase ....an increase
B)decrease ...a decrease
C)increase ...a decrease
D)decrease ...an increase

Question 47

What three revolutions with far-ranging impacts on society and families were discussed in the textbook?

A)the Agricultural,Industrial and Electronics revolutions.
B)the American,French and Russian revolutions.
C)the Monarchial,Republic and Democratic revolutions.
D)the Capitalist,Socialist and Communist revolutions.