Question 1

A single mother who works in a factory sewing large sheets of canvass would be considered

Accepted Answer

A single mother working in a factory sewing large sheets of canvass would likely fall within the working class. The working class is typically defined as individuals who rely on manual labor or working-class jobs to earn a living wage, often without access to significant wealth or resources.

Question 2

A well-known Hollywood actress owns a home in Beverly Hills and another one on the French Riviera.She owns her own movie production company along with a large stock portfolio.The total of the different things she owns is considered her

Accepted Answer

Wealth is the correct choice because it refers to the total value of assets owned by an individual, including real estate, stocks, and other investments. This is the most appropriate term to describe the actress's belongings. Income refers to the money earned from work or investments during a certain period, caste refers to the social class one is born into, and esteem refers to a person's reputation or standing in society.

Question 3

A woman is born into a homeless,single-parent family.She is very talented and as an adult,becomes a wealthy,world-acclaimed pianist.This scenario most closely represents which type of stratification system?

Accepted Answer

This scenario represents a case of social mobility, where the woman from a lower socioeconomic status family has moved up the social ladder through her own talent and hard work. Class systems are characterized by social mobility, where individuals can move up or down in the social hierarchy based on their achievements, abilities, and merits. In contrast, caste systems are rigid and hereditary, estate systems are based on land ownership, and slavery systems involve the ownership of people as property.

Question 4

An 83-year-old woman is placed at a small table in a dark corner of a trendy nightclub and is ignored by the staff.Her shoddy treatment is probably due to her age,which is a(n)________ status.

Accepted Answer

An ascribed status is a social status that is assigned at birth or assumed involuntarily later in life. Age is an example of an ascribed status since it is assigned based on the year a person is born. In this scenario, the woman's poor treatment is likely due to her age, which is an ascribed status that the nightclub staff is using to discriminate against her.

Question 5

A panhandler makes $15 to $20 per day on the streets.This is his

Accepted Answer

Income refers to the amount of money a person earns from work, investments, or other sources. In this scenario, the panhandler's earnings of $15 to $20 per day on the streets represent his income. Status refers to a person's position or rank in society, while prestige refers to the level of respect or admiration people have for someone. Wealth refers to the total value of a person's assets and possessions, including property, investments, and money in the bank. None of these terms accurately describe the panhandler's situation, which is best described as a low income.

Question 6

A condition in which members of a society have different amounts of wealth,prestige,or power is called

Accepted Answer

Social inequality refers to the condition in which some members of a society have more resources or opportunities than others, leading to disparities in wealth, status, and power. Socialization refers to the process by which individuals learn the norms and values of a society, while status refers to one's position or rank within a social hierarchy. Social structure refers to the organized patterns and relationships within a society.

Question 7

A system of stratification under which peasants were required to work land leased to them by nobles in exchange for military protection is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

The answer of A system of stratification under which peasants...

Question 8

Capitalism is an economic system in which

Accepted Answer

Capitalism is characterized by private ownership of the means of production and the pursuit of profit as the main motivator for economic activity. A is incorrect because it describes a system of collective ownership, while B describes communal ownership and no social distinctions which are not present in capitalism. D is incorrect because there is a correct option.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about slavery is true?

Accepted Answer

Slavery is widely considered the most extreme form of social inequality because it involves the ownership and control of one human being by another. Choices B, C, and D are all incorrect. Slavery has existed in many societies throughout history, not just in the United States and ancient Greece. Slavery was not always considered a permanent status in ancient Greece, as some slaves were able to buy their freedom or be freed as a reward for good service. Slavery in the U.S. was not an achieved status, as one could not become a slave through their own efforts or accomplishments.

Question 10

Which of the following terms is used by sociologists for a structured ranking of groups of people that perpetuates unequal economic rewards and power in society?

Accepted Answer

Stratification refers to a structured ranking of groups of people based on factors such as their social class, income, education level, and occupation, which perpetuates unequal economic rewards and power in society. Social mobility refers to the ability of individuals to move from one social class to another within a stratified society. Hypergamy refers to the practice of marrying someone of higher social status or wealth. Status refers to an individual's position or rank within a social hierarchy.

Question 11

An ascribed status is a social position

Accepted Answer

An ascribed status is assigned to a person without regard to the person's unique characteristics or talents. It is often determined at birth or based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, and social class, which are beyond the individual's control.

Question 12

In sociologist Daniel Rossides's model of the class system of the U.S. ,which social class contains the smallest portion of the population?

Accepted Answer

According to Daniel Rossides's model of the class system of the U.S., the upper class contains the smallest portion of the population. This is because the upper class is characterized by extreme wealth, political influence, and exclusive social networks, which are only accessible to a very small percentage of people.

Question 13

A class system employs a social ranking based primarily on

Accepted Answer

A class system is a social ranking based primarily on economic position. Age, caste, and religious/ethnic backgrounds may play a role but are not the primary factors in a class system.

Question 14

Wealth is

Accepted Answer

Wealth refers to all of a person's material assets, including land, stocks, and other types of property. Salaries and wages refer to income, but not necessarily wealth. The terms used by Max Weber and Thorstein Veblen refer to social status and lifestyle, respectively, but not necessarily wealth.

Question 15

Some sociologists have suggested that in the southern U.S.in the pre-civil rights era,an African American individual was born into a status that would always be subordinate to the status of all of the White members of the community.This is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

In a caste system, individuals are born into a predetermined social class or status that is unlikely to change throughout their lifetime. The example given in the question describes the social hierarchy in the pre-civil rights era southern U.S. where African Americans were born into a lower caste and were not allowed to move out of it due to systemic discrimination and segregation. The estate system (A) is a feudal society where the nobility owns the land and peasants work for them. A class system (B) is characterized by social mobility based on personal achievements, wealth, and education. The feudal system (D) is a hierarchy where landowning lords grant protection and land to vassals who work for them.

Question 16

Which term was used by Karl Marx to refer to the capitalist class that owns the means of production?

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx used the term "bourgeoisie" to refer to the capitalist class that owns the means of production.

Question 17

Which of the following terms refers to hereditary systems of rank that are relatively fixed,immobile,and generally religiously dictated?

Accepted Answer

Castes are hereditary systems of rank that are relatively fixed, immobile, and generally religiously dictated. Tenure is a system of holding land, slavery refers to the practice of owning people as property, and feudalism is a medieval system of land tenure and military service.

Question 18

A system of enforced servitude in which people are legally owned by others is known as

Accepted Answer

Slavery is the only option that accurately describes a system in which people are owned by others. Feudalism refers to a social and economic system in which serfs work the land of their lord in exchange for protection, while communism is a political and economic system in which property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. A caste system is a social structure in which individuals are born into a particular social group and have limited mobility between classes.

Question 19

An individual's salary and wages are referred to as

Accepted Answer

Salary and wages are forms of income, which refers to the money an individual receives from employment, investments, or other sources of revenue. Wealth refers to the total assets of an individual, while prosperity is a more general term for success and well-being. Finances refer to the management of money and resources, which may include income but also includes expenses and assets.

Question 20

Karl Marx argued that social,economic,and political inequalities are dependent on

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx believed that social, economic, and political inequalities were dependent on class differentiation. He argued that the capitalist system created a class struggle between the bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production) and the proletariat (working class) that led to inequality and exploitation. Marx believed that the only way to overcome these inequalities was through a revolutionary overthrow of the bourgeoisie and establishment of a socialist society.

Quiz 8: Stratification and Social Mobility in the United States