Deck 12: Hunger in America: the Growing Epidemic Physician Task Force Onhunger in America

Question 1

In your opinion, why does the myth of upward class mobility in America persist in the spite of the reality?

Answer 1

not answered

Question 2

Corak's recent study of mobility in Europe and North America found that the U.S. and Great Britain are the most mobile societies among the rich countries studied.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Which of the following statements best summarizes recent longitudinal studies of families' economic experiences?

A) Children born into poverty have a good chance of experiencing upward class mobility.
B) Children born into wealth have a good change of experiencing downward class mobility.
C) Children's economic success is likely to resemble that of their parents.
D) none of the above

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A child starting out in poverty in continental Europe or Canada has a better chance at prosperity than a comparable child in the U.S.

Question 5

According to Wessel, in which of the following ways do parents pass along their economic status to their children?

A) education, IQ scores, race, health status, and personality traits
B) employment status, standard of living, education, and race
C) standard of living, health status, and education
D) a and b above

Question 6

Who is credited with first characterizing America as an exceptionally mobile society where children born in poverty do not remain trapped there?

A) David Wessel
B) Thomas Mellon
C) Benjamin Franklin
D) Andrew Carnegie

Question 7

Which factor became increasingly important for upward social mobility in the 20^th century?

A) moving from family farms to cities for better economic opportunities
B) the belief that hard work and thrift would pay off
C) education
D) salaried employment, rather than an hourly wage

Question 8

Economists and sociologists now agree that at least percent of a parents' advantage in income is passed along to their children.

A) 20
B) 45
C) 65
D) 80

Question 9

According to Wessel, to what extent does Americans' economic success or failure depend on their parents? Explain.

Question 10

A recent survey of freshmen at four-year colleges found that nearly three-fourths said their parents had no formal education beyond high school.

Question 11

Upward social mobility was more reality than myth in 19^th century America.

Question 12

Discuss the political and economic factors that reflect continued belief that America is the "land of unbounded opportunity".

Question 13

A review of over 30 years of data on over 6,000 families found that a larger percentage of blacks born to the bottom 10 percent of families ranked by income remained there as adults compared to whites.