Deck 13: Same-Sex Marriage

Question 1

The marriage,in the full legal sense,of gay and lesbian couples is referred to as:

A)unlawful marriage.
B)heterosexual marriage.
C)same-sex marriage.
D)pseudo-marriage.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The law that forbids the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages and denies federal benefits to gay and lesbian marriages is called the:

A)Anti-Gay Marriage Act.
B)Social Integrity Act.
C)Traditional Marriage Act.
D)Defense of Marriage Act.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In 2011 the percentage of the population that thought the marriage of gay and lesbian couples should be legal was:

A)44.
B)53.
C)17.
D)73.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Some argue that same-sex marriage would foster social cohesion,emotional security,and economic prudence.This tack is clearly:

A)communitarian.
B)Kantian.
C)Roman Catholic.
D)utilitarian.

Question 5

Some argue for same-sex marriage in this Kantian way: to violate people's right to equal treatment and equal opportunity is to treat them merely as a means-to regard them as less than persons with full moral rights.Outlawing same-sex marriage denies gays and lesbians the equal treatment and opportunity they are due.A natural law theorist might reply that:

A)gays and lesbians have no rights.
B)the rights of straights outweigh the rights of homosexuals.
C)in this case, the rights to equal treatment and equal opportunity go too far.
D)utility outweighs rights.

Question 6

The ______ view rejects same-sex marriage because it is contrary to the divinely mandated aim of procreation.

A)liberal
B)Roman Catholic
C)utilitarian
D)libertarian

Question 7

In 2011,about ______ percent of American adults identified themselves as lesbian,gay,or bisexual.

A)0.01
B)10
C)7
D)3.5

Question 8

One reason to doubt that procreation is the essential function of marriage is that:

A)most women are fertile.
B)"procreation" is not shown on marriage licenses.
C)our civil marriage laws do not require procreation or fertility to be a necessary part of marriage.
D)most women are infertile.

Question 9

Jonathan Rauch contends that,in addition to childrearing,the strongest reason(s)for marriage is/are:

A)religious training for children.
B)domesticating men and providing reliable caregivers.
C)protecting women and their children.
D)providing children with mothers and fathers.

Question 10

Proponents of same-sex marriage argue that:

A)permitting same-sex marriage is a matter of justice, which demands equal treatment and equal opportunity for all.
B)the consequences of allowing same-sex marriage would be dangerous or harmful.
C)allowing it would encourage many more heterosexual people to become gay.
D)permitting same-sex marriage would lower the crime rate.

Question 11

If someone says,"Marriage is morally acceptable only between one man and one woman," he/she is expressing a ______ view.

A)liberal
B)utilitarian
C)moderate
D)conventional

Question 12

Some traditionalists argue against same-sex marriage by appealing to the essence or real meaning of marriage.To them,the true purpose and meaning of marriage is:

A)legal coupling.
B)security and sexual pleasure.
C)domesticating men and providing reliable caregivers.
D)procreation and childrearing.

Question 13

If Kant defended same-sex marriage,he would probably do so based on:

A)social consequences.
B)the dictates of nature.
C)respect for persons.
D)Christian scripture.

Question 14

On the question of same-sex marriage,religious denominations:

A)are uniformly opposed to it.
B)are unanimously in favor of it.
C)are divided.
D)have taken no formal position on it.

Question 15

Many critics of same-sex marriage say that the practice is contrary to tradition.If you were a proponent of same-sex marriage,you might respond to the critics by asserting that:

A)just because a practice is traditional, that in itself does not mean it is morally acceptable.
B)the consequences of tinkering with long-established traditions could be catastrophic for society.
C)long-standing social traditions embody collective wisdom that should be respected.
D)long-standing social traditions are always morally correct.

Question 16

Maggie Gallagher says that the problem with endorsing gay marriage is that it would:

A)discriminate against straight couples.
B)require society at large to gut marriage of its central presumptions about family.
C)allow marriage privately, religiously, emotionally, and individually to have many meanings.
D)make marriages of any kind disappear.

Question 17

Some argue that it's not possible to change established traditions without risking destruction of society's systems,so we should leave the tradition of marriage alone.A plausible reply to this line is that:

A)established traditions are invariably discriminatory.
B)established traditions can never be reformed.
C)this view implies that no social reforms should ever be undertaken, a perspective that would have disallowed, for example, the abolition of slavery.
D)this view implies that traditions that have been discarded in the past should be reinstituted.

Question 18

Jonathan Rauch argues that if the purposes of marriage can be realized through both same-sex and heterosexual marriage,then:

A)marriage is unnecessary.
B)there are fewer reasons to exclude homosexuals from marriage.
C)marriage in general cannot be justified.
D)there is no reason to bar homosexual couples from legal marriage.

Question 19

Suppose the empirical facts are that same-sex marriage makes many gay couples happy,strengthens the institution of marriage,and benefits society while causing few if any social or economic problems.A utilitarian then would likely judge same-sex marriage to be ______; a natural law theorist would probably judge it to be ______.

A)permissible; permissible
B)impermissible; impermissible
C)impermissible; permissible
D)permissible; impermissible

Question 20

Some argue against same-sex marriage by appealing to the benefits to society of preserving long-standing customs and traditions.The tradition of marriage is one such tradition,now solidly established as an institution joining male and female only.A plausible reply to this view is that:

A)the tradition of marriage doesn't matter.
B)not all traditions are beneficial; some need to be changed because they violate rights.
C)the tradition of marriage doesn't have any benefits, only disadvantages.
D)whatever people prefer should constitute traditions.

Question 21

Jonathan Rauch admits that:

A)children are the only reason for marriage.
B)marriage has nothing to do with children.
C)children cannot be the only reason for marriage.
D)children are the only metaphysical reason for marriage.

Question 22

The split in Conservative Judaism over same-sex marriage shows that:

A)even pious Conservative Jews can have principled disagreements over same-sex marriage.
B)none of the opinions among Conservative Jews are correct.
C)ancient religious traditions and doctrines seldom conflict with the ethics of contemporary society.
D)the disagreements are superficial.

Question 23

Conservatives and some clergy condemned the New York State Legislature's vote to legalize same-sex marriages,asserting that the law would:

A)ultimately unite liberals and conservatives on the issue.
B)not succeed in altering humanity's historic understanding of marriage.
C)not affect public morality.
D)undermine public morality.

Question 24

New York Attorney General Eric T.Schneiderman thinks that the controversy over the Defense of Marriage Act is basically about:

A)liberal politics.
B)equal justice under the law.
C)upholding religious traditions.
D)majority rule.

Question 25

If you were a natural law theorist,you might say that sexual encounters:

A)are sex without a larger moral meaning.
B)are just physical events.
C)involve the commingling of persons' spiritual and moral selves.
D)are always good in themselves.