Question 1

Which is true about present day Americans who are at the official poverty level?&#10;A) Their incomes are about the same as those at the poverty level in 1950.&#10;B) Their incomes are higher than all but the richest Americans in 1900.&#10;C) Their incomes are about the same as those at the poverty level in 1900.&#10;D) Their incomes are about the same as those in the middle class in 1950.

Accepted Answer

Americans at the official poverty level today generally have higher incomes than all but the wealthiest Americans in 1900, reflecting overall economic growth and changes in living standards over time.

Question 2

Which of the following most accurately describes world population growth?&#10;A) World population has increased steadily during the past 6,000 years.&#10;B) World population has exhibited significant cyclical patterns of growth and decline.&#10;C) World population was relatively small until 1750, when it increased extremely rapidly.&#10;D) World population was small until after World War II, when it increased very quickly.

Accepted Answer

World population remained relatively small and grew at a slow pace until around 1750, when the Industrial Revolution began, leading to improvements in agriculture, sanitation, and medicine. This resulted in a dramatic increase in population growth rates.

Question 3

Nobel laureate Robert Fogel contends that which of the following are good proxies for current levels of nutrition?&#10;A) Changes in height during the growing years&#10;B) Total height&#10;C) Total weight&#10;D) Changes in weight during the growing years

Accepted Answer

Changes in height during the growing years

Question 4

Which of the following is most accurate about ownership of household goods, such as flush toilets, refrigerators, televisions, clothes dryers and automobiles?&#10;A) Very few Americans at the poverty level in 2005 own these goods.&#10;B) Americans at the poverty level in 2005 own these goods at about the same rate as average households in 1950.&#10;C) Americans at the poverty level in 2005 own these goods at higher rates than average households in 1950.&#10;D) Americans at the poverty level in 2005 own these goods at about half the rate as average households in 1950.

Accepted Answer

Americans at the poverty level in 2005 own these goods at higher rates than average households in 1950, reflecting the overall increase in living standards and access to what were once considered luxury items.

Question 5

Per capita GDP in the US between 1900 and 2011 _____.&#10;A) has remained about the same.&#10;B) increased until about 1970 and decreased since then.&#10;C) was cyclical, but generally trending upward throughout the century.&#10;D) grew very quickly for the first half of the century and grew at a much lower rate in the second half of the century.

Accepted Answer

Per capita GDP in the US between 1900 and 2011 experienced fluctuations due to economic cycles, such as the Great Depression and recessions, but the overall trend was upward, reflecting long-term economic growth and increases in living standards.

Question 6

Which of the following was the most likely wealth status of the children of both the richest and the poorest quintile of parents (measured in 1977)?&#10;A) They will remain in the richest or&#160; poorest quintile, respectively.&#10;B) They will move up in wealth.&#10;C) They will drop in wealth.&#10;D) The poor will move to the higher quintile in wealth, whereas the richtest will drop to the second wealthiest quintile.

Accepted Answer

Children of the richest and poorest quintiles are likely to remain in their respective quintiles due to factors like inherited wealth, access to resources, and systemic barriers that maintain wealth disparities.

Question 7

Which is true about present day Americans who are at the official poverty level?&#10;A) Their incomes are about the same as the average world income.&#10;B) Their incomes are about half of the average world income.&#10;C) Their incomes are above the world average per capita income.&#10;D) Their incomes are about the average income of people in nations like China, India and Pakistan.

Accepted Answer

Americans at the official poverty level generally have incomes that are above the world average per capita income. This is due to the relatively high standard of living and income levels in the United States compared to many other countries around the world.

Question 8

Which of the following most accurately describes changes in life expectancy?&#10;A) Life expectancy was relatively low until 1750, when it increased extremely rapidly.&#10;B) Life expectancy has increased steadily during the past 6,000 years.&#10;C) Life expectancy was low until after World War II, when it increased very quickly.&#10;D) Life expectancy has exhibited significant cyclical patterns of growth and decline.

Accepted Answer

Life expectancy was relatively low until around 1750, after which it began to increase rapidly due to improvements in medicine, sanitation, and overall living conditions.

Question 9

Which is most accurate about those who were in the bottom fifth of the income distribution in 1977?&#10;A) In 2009, about 85% of them were still in the bottom fifth of the income distribution.&#10;B) In 2009, about 50% were still in the bottom fifth of the income distribution.&#10;C) In 2009, about 25% were in the bottom fifth and another 25% were in the second poorest group.&#10;D) In 2009, about 14% were in the middle fifth and another 9% were in the second richest group.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which is most accurate about those who...

Question 10

Why was the upgrade of the diplomats of the leading European powers from ministers to ambassadors in Washington D.C. in 1892 somewhat belated?&#10;A) The United States already held a trade surplus with Europe in 1877.&#10;B) By that time, U.S. output per capita was already only a little below that of Great Britain.&#10;C) The United States had already joined the Western Alliance of Britain and France as a major military power.

Accepted Answer

By 1892, the economic stature of the United States had significantly grown, with its output per capita nearing that of Great Britain, indicating its rising importance on the global stage. This economic strength warranted the elevation of diplomatic representation, making the upgrade to ambassadors a recognition of the U.S.'s growing influence and status among the world's leading powers.

Deck 1: Growth, Welfare, and the American Economy