Question 1

Which term did Marshall McLuhan use to refer to the "shrinking" of the world through immediate electronic communications?

Accepted Answer

Marshall McLuhan coined the term "global village" to describe the world becoming smaller and more interconnected through electronic communications.

Question 2

During the era of residential schools, Aboriginal children were not allowed to speak to one another in their native language. They were expected to learn and speak the English language instead. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of ethnocentrism, where one culture (in this case, the European/colonial culture) is seen as superior and dominant over another culture (in this case, the Aboriginal cultures). The forced assimilation of Aboriginal children into Western culture and language was an expression of the belief that Western culture and language were objectively better and more advanced than Indigenous culture and language. Multiculturalism, cultural lag, and culture shock do not accurately describe this situation.

Question 3

Rathayan and Gowthaman have both lived in Canada since their families emigrated from Sri Lanka three years ago. Recently, the two boys went back to visit Sri Lanka. When they returned to Canada, they kept talking about how much better things are in Canada. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Rathayan and Gowthaman are showing xenocentrism by believing that the culture and country they were born in is inferior to Canada. This can be seen as a form of cultural superiority or cultural snobbery, and is different from xenophobia (fear or hatred of other cultures) or cultural relativism (accepting and respecting different cultures without judgment). It could also be seen as a form of assimilation, as they have adopted the values and beliefs of their new country. However, the focus on comparing their two countries and finding Canada superior points more towards xenocentrism.

Question 4

The technology is now in place to clone mammals. However, many people are reluctant to accept this process of producing genetically identical individuals. This reflects:

Accepted Answer

Cultural lag refers to the delay in societal response to technological innovation. In this case, the reluctance to accept cloning as a means of reproduction is an example of cultural lag, as the technology is available but the attitudes and beliefs of society have not yet caught up to it.

Question 5

Raj is giving a presentation on how Cancon (Canadian content) preserves and promotes Canadian culture. This reflects which theoretical perspective?

Accepted Answer

Functionalism focuses on how different parts of society work together to maintain social order and stability. Cancon is a policy put in place to protect and promote Canadian culture, which can be seen as a way to maintain social stability by preserving Canadian identity and values.

Question 6

The Canadian company once known as Research in Motion developed the popular BlackBerryS hand-held device. The BlackBerry phone is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The BlackBerry phone was created through the process of invention, which involves the development of a new product or idea that did not previously exist. Research in Motion created the technology for the BlackBerry from scratch, making it an innovative invention.

Question 7

Shurti grew up in India where most women dress conservatively. On her first visit to Canada, she was stunned to see the short-shorts, tank tops, and miniskirts worn by some Canadian women. Shurti was experiencing:

Accepted Answer

Shurti's response suggests that she is experiencing culture shock, which is the feeling of disorientation and discomfort that foreign visitors sometimes experience when encountering an unfamiliar culture for the first time. Cultural diffusion refers to the spread of cultural beliefs or practices from one group to another, but there is no evidence of this in the situation described. Cultural lag refers to the delay or gap between technological innovations and changes in cultural norms, but this is not relevant to Shurti's experience. Cultural transmission refers to the ways in which cultural beliefs or practices are passed down from one generation to another, but again, this is not applicable here.

Question 8

Patrick is a sociology student and he has volunteered through WUSC to work on a community development project in Zambia. Patrick is going to make a serious and unbiased effort to use Zambian norms to evaluate and understand the culture. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Patrick is making an effort to understand and evaluate the culture in Zambia based on Zambian norms, rather than his own cultural biases or assumptions. This approach is an example of cultural relativism. Ethnocentrism, on the other hand, involves judging other cultures based on the standards of one's own culture. Xenocentrism involves valuing the culture of others over one's own culture. Xenophobia is a fear or distrust of people from other cultures.

Question 9

Most Canadians say that they value freedom of speech. However, a Dire Straits song was banned from radio play by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council because the lyrics were considered obscene. In this case, freedom of speech is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The fact that Canadians value freedom of speech is an example of ideal culture, which refers to the beliefs and values that a society aspires to but may not necessarily fully practice in reality. The banning of the Dire Straits song shows that there may be a gap between ideal and real culture in Canada, where certain expressions of speech are not fully tolerated in practice. Counterculture refers to a subculture that rejects mainstream values, while material culture refers to physical artifacts produced by a society.

Question 10

When Americans adopt the goal of spreading democracy all around the world, they are suggesting that democracy is better than anything else another country might already have in place. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture or country is superior to others. By suggesting that democracy is better than anything else another country might already have in place, Americans are exhibiting ethnocentrism.

Question 11

The students in a sociology class in Ottawa, Ontario meet with a class of sociology students in Örebro, Sweden twice a month using webcams and the internet. This use of technology to bring different parts of the world closer together illustrates:

Accepted Answer

The use of technology to connect students from different parts of the world is an example of the concept of the global village, which refers to how advances in communication and technology have made the world feel smaller and more connected. The other choices do not accurately describe this situation - real culture refers to the genuine beliefs and practices of a culture, assimilation involves individuals from one culture adopting the customs of another culture, and cultural transmission refers to how cultural beliefs and practices are passed down from one generation to the next.

Question 12

Which of the following is true of cultural universals?

Accepted Answer

Cultural universals are patterns or traits that are found in all known cultures. However, the specific form they take may vary widely between cultures. Therefore, option B is not true as every culture has not developed the same cultural universals in the same way. Option A and D are not true as cultural universals can apply to both material and non-material aspects of culture.

Question 13

The Hells Angels and the Rock Machine are biker gangs whose values oppose those of most Canadians. As such, these gangs are considered a:

Accepted Answer

The Hells Angels and the Rock Machine are considered a counterculture because they have values that oppose those of mainstream Canadian society. They engage in criminal activities, including drug trafficking and violence, which are not accepted or tolerated by most Canadians. Subcultures may have values and norms that differ from mainstream culture, but they do not necessarily oppose or reject them. Material culture refers to physical objects and artifacts that are part of a culture, while real culture refers to the actual behaviors and practices of a culture.

Question 14

In a survey that allows participants to express their opinion, Canadian and American students are more likely choose "strongly agree" and "strongly disagree," whereas Chinese and Japanese students tended to choose the less extreme responses. This represents:

Accepted Answer

Canadian and American students' tendency to choose extreme responses reflects individualism, which emphasizes personal expression and assertiveness.

Question 15

During World War II, Canadians from which ethnic group were imprisoned in internment camps?

Accepted Answer

During World War II, Japanese Canadians were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in internment camps by the Canadian government. Approximately 22,000 Japanese Canadians, two-thirds of whom were Canadian citizens, were subjected to this treatment. This act was a result of racist attitudes and wartime hysteria, and many Japanese Canadians lost their homes, businesses, and possessions as a result.

Question 16

According to the 2006 Canadian census, there were 242,685 Canadians who claimed Greek ethnicity. In many cities across Canada, the Greek community is active and vibrant. It maintains churches and schools and holds festivals. In Canada, the Greek community is an example of a:

Accepted Answer

The Greek community in Canada represents a subculture, which refers to a smaller cultural group within a larger culture. They have distinct traditions, customs, and practices that are unique to Greek culture and differ from wider Canadian culture. This is evidenced by the existence of Greek churches, schools, and festivals, which serve to preserve and celebrate their cultural heritage.

Question 17

Amadou is Nigerian. In his home village, people are very flexible with time. When Amadou first visited Canada, he was confused by the concern for punctuality and promptness. Amadou was experiencing:

Accepted Answer

Amadou's confusion and disorientation in Canada due to the differing norms and values of punctuality and timekeeping suggest that he is experiencing culture shock. Culture shock refers to the feelings of disorientation, confusion, and anxiety that people experience when they are confronted by unfamiliar cultural practices or values.

Question 18

CNN is an American news corporation that broadcasts in over 200 countries. Because this American corporation often dominates other local news organizations, CNN is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Cultural imperialism refers to the domination of one culture over others, often through the spread of media and popular culture. In this case, CNN's wide reach in over 200 countries can be seen as an example of cultural imperialism because it often overshadows local news organizations and promotes American perspectives and values.

Question 19

Even though Canadians value gender equality, in many ways, women are still not treated as equal to men. This inequality reflects:

Accepted Answer

Real culture refers to the actual behaviors, values, and norms of a society. Despite ideal culture (values and norms a society claims to have) valuing gender equality, the reality is that women in Canada still face gender-based inequalities. This discrepancy between ideal and real culture is a reflection of the unequal treatment of women.

Question 20

In Quebec, Bill 101 states that French should be the only language used on commercial signs. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In Quebec, Bill 101 states that French...

Quiz 3: Culture