Question 1

What did Mike Rose find when he observed working-class occupations?

Accepted Answer

In his book "The Mind at Work," Mike Rose found that the working-class occupations he observed, such as waitressing, welding, and carpentry, require a high level of skill and intelligence. He rejects the common notion that these jobs are mindless and unskilled, and instead portrays the complex cognitive processes that these workers engage in on a daily basis.

Question 2

According to the _____ perspective,multinational corporations perpetuate global stratification.

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective emphasizes the struggle for power and resources between different groups in society. It argues that multinational corporations perpetuate global stratification by exploiting workers in developing countries for cheap labor, keeping wages low, and creating a dependency on the global market. This perpetuates unequal power dynamics and reinforces the dominance of wealthy countries over poorer ones.

Question 3

This term is used to describe a situation wherein an individual occupies a position that places her between two classes and so may find it tough to identify with one class or the other.

Accepted Answer

Contradictory class location refers to a situation where an individual occupies a position between two classes, making it difficult for them to identify with one group or another. This concept is usually applied to individuals who belong to the middle class but have connections with the working or upper classes, creating a sense of ambiguity about their social status. The other options, such as relative poverty, affluenza, and culture of poverty thesis, are related to poverty, wealth, and cultural factors and are not relevant to this concept.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true about the near poor?

Accepted Answer

The near poor often defy stereotypes of poor people because they might not fit the traditional image of poverty but still struggle with financial insecurity.

Question 5

Which industrialized country has the greatest income disparity between poor and wealthy citizens?

Accepted Answer

Income inequality in the US is among the highest of all industrialized countries, with a very small percentage of the population holding a large portion of the wealth. The top 1% of Americans hold over 40% of the country's wealth, while the bottom 80% hold only 7%. This disparity has been growing over the past few decades, making the US a prime example of income inequality among developed nations.

Question 6

The land,commercial enterprises,factories,and wealth that combine to form the economic foundation of a class-based society,are referred to as the

Accepted Answer

The means of production refer to the assets and resources necessary for the production of goods and services. In a class-based society, these means are typically controlled by the wealthier class, or the bourgeoisie. The proletariat refers to the working class who do not own these means of production. Untouchables is not relevant in this context.

Question 7

Which of the following health problems is an illustration of the global health imbalance?

Accepted Answer

HIV/AIDS is a global health problem that disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The availability of antiretroviral therapies has led to improvements in treatment, but there are still significant challenges in terms of access to care and prevention efforts in these regions. Diabetes and epilepsy are also global health issues, but they do not have the same level of imbalance in terms of their geographical distribution. Drug addiction is a complex issue that can also have global implications, but it is not necessarily always linked to health inequalities.

Question 8

When one's standard of living is lower,by comparison,to that of society's majority,we refer to this as

Accepted Answer

When one's standard of living is lower, by comparison to that of society's majority, it is referred to as relative poverty. This term relates to a person or family's income and living standards compared to those of other individuals or families within the same society. It is different from absolute poverty, which is defined by the lack of basic human needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing. Social poverty and comparative poverty are not commonly used terms to describe economic inequality.

Question 9

What is the underlying assumption of welfare reform?

Accepted Answer

The assumption of welfare reform is that requiring aid recipients to work will improve their values and habits, leading to eventual self-sufficiency. This is based on the belief that dependence on welfare leads to a lack of motivation and personal responsibility.

Question 10

The poverty rate is defined as

Accepted Answer

The poverty rate is defined as the percentage of people whose income falls below the official poverty line, which is set by the government based on family size, income, and resources. Therefore, option C is the correct choice as it accurately defines the poverty rate. Options A, B, and D define different aspects of poverty but not the poverty rate itself.

Question 11

What is the culture-of-poverty thesis?

Accepted Answer

The culture-of-poverty thesis is the belief that poor people develop a unique value structure and set of orientations to deal with the likelihood that they will never achieve conventional success. This thesis argues that the poor have a culture that perpetuates poverty, including the lack of work ethic, low levels of education, and a preference for government assistance over self-sufficiency. Many sociologists reject this thesis as blaming the victim and ignoring the structural reasons for poverty, such as lack of access to education and persistent discrimination.

Question 12

Absolute poverty is defined as

Accepted Answer

Absolute poverty refers to the inability to afford basic necessities, such as food, shelter, and clothing. It is a condition of extreme deprivation where individuals cannot meet their basic needs for survival. Options A, C, and D do not accurately define absolute poverty.

Question 13

According to the text,homelessness in the United States can be traced to ______ problems.

Accepted Answer

The text states that homelessness in the United States can be attributed to institutional problems such as a lack of affordable housing and inadequate support systems for those in need.

Question 14

What happens to a near-poor family when it experiences an unexpected financial crisis?

Accepted Answer

A near-poor family is already living on a precarious financial edge, so an unexpected financial crisis can cause it to descend into poverty. Without savings, assets, or safety nets, the family may struggle to make ends meet and face heightened stress, health problems, and social exclusion. The crisis may trigger a cycle of debt, unemployment, eviction, or homelessness that can undermine the family's well-being and future prospects.

Question 15

What is the structural-functionalist view of stratification?

Accepted Answer

The structural-functionalist view of stratification is that society works better when people compete for desirable positions. This competition provides motivation for individuals to work harder and improve their skills, ultimately benefitting society as a whole.

Question 16

What problem arises when the poverty line is set too low?

Accepted Answer

When the poverty line is set too low, families with incomes slightly above it may not qualify for assistance programs, potentially leading to a lower standard of living compared to those below the poverty line who do receive aid.

Question 17

The McCalls are a family of five living in a rented,two-bedroom house.They have enough to eat and adequate clothing and furnishings,though most of what they have was purchased secondhand.Most families in their community own their own homes and can afford to shop at an upscale mall.The McCalls's condition is an example of

Accepted Answer

Relative poverty is a condition where one's income and resources are below the median income and resources level of their society. In this case, the McCalls may have enough to meet their basic needs, but compared to their community, they are relatively poor. Absolute poverty, on the other hand, is a condition where one does not have enough resources to meet their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing. This does not seem to be the case for the McCalls. Absolute deprivation refers to the inability to access basic goods and services due to poverty. The culture of poverty suggests that the poor have a specific set of values and beliefs that keep them trapped in poverty, but this theory has been widely criticized as lacking validity.

Question 18

According to the culture-of-poverty thesis,the principal cause of poverty is

Accepted Answer

The culture-of-poverty thesis argues that poverty is caused by a set of cultural beliefs and values that perpetuate poverty across generations. The thesis posits that individuals in poverty have a "present-oriented" mindset and are less concerned with future opportunities, such as education or career advancement. This cultural outlook is seen as the principal cause of poverty, rather than immediate lack of material resources, capitalism or urbanization.

Question 19

The Green family lives in a home that does not provide adequate protection from the weather.They are often unable to eat more than twice a day and suffer from chronic malnutrition.The Greens live in _____ poverty.

Accepted Answer

The living conditions of the Green family indicate that they are experiencing absolute poverty, which is a lack of resources to meet basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. Relative poverty refers to a situation where individuals or families have fewer resources or income compared to others in society, but still have access to basic needs. Near and common poverty are not recognized terms in poverty classification.

Question 20

Which class suffers disproportionately from downturns in the U.S.economy?

Accepted Answer

The working class often suffers the most during economic downturns, as they are typically in more unstable or lower-wage jobs and have less savings or financial cushion to rely on. The upper class and upper-middle class tend to have more resources and options to weather economic fluctuations, while the middle class may be affected but not to the same extent as the working class.

Quiz 10: The Architecture of Stratification: Social Class and Inequality