Question 1

When a person does not have adequate resources to maintain his or her health,such as enough food to eat,the person is said to be in
A) absolute poverty.
B) relative poverty.
C) downward mobility.
D) upward mobility.

Accepted Answer

Absolute poverty refers to a condition where an individual lacks the basic resources necessary for a minimum standard of living, such as food, shelter, and healthcare.

Question 2

When sociologists examine how far an individual moves up or down the socioeconomic scale in his or her lifetime,they are studying
A) absolute poverty.
B) social reproduction.
C) life chances.
D) intragenerational mobility.

Accepted Answer

Intragenerational mobility refers to the changes in social status that occur within a person's lifetime, such as moving up or down the socioeconomic scale.

Question 3

What is meant by the phrase feminization of poverty?
A) the fact that women are more likely not to marry until they find a rich man
B) an increase in the proportion of the poor who are female
C) the notion that women are not as likely to pursue education or other skill development and end up in lower-paying jobs
D) the idea that women do not work as hard as men and are therefore more likely to be poor

Accepted Answer

The phrase "feminization of poverty" refers to the increasing proportion of the poor who are female, highlighting the gender disparities in poverty rates.

Question 4

According to Pierre Bourdieu,working-class parents are just as interested in their children's education as middle- and upper-class parents,but they lack the _______ to help their children experience social mobility.
A) dependency culture
B) cultural capital
C) surplus value
D) structural continuity

Accepted Answer

Cultural capital refers to the non-financial social assets, such as education, intellect, style of speech, and appearance, that promote social mobility. Working-class parents may lack the cultural capital that middle- and upper-class parents possess, which can affect their children's educational and social opportunities.

Question 5

Intergenerational mobility is best described as when
A) a person achieves a different class position than the one he or she thought they would have.
B) a person maintains the same class position as his or her parents or grandparents.
C) a person has a different class position from that of his or her parents or grandparents.
D) a person achieves a different class position from his or her siblings.

Accepted Answer

Intergenerational mobility refers to changes in social status or class from one generation to the next, typically comparing the class position of children to that of their parents or grandparents.

Question 6

Those who believe that poverty results from structural factors beyond the control of individuals would see which of the following as a source of poverty?
A) unequal distribution of educational resources
B) universal health care
C) decreasing income inequality
D) immorality of the poor

Accepted Answer

Unequal distribution of educational resources is a structural factor that can limit opportunities and contribute to poverty, as it is beyond the control of individuals.

Question 7

How does the government determine the poverty line?
A) It calculates a strict,no-frills budget based on cost estimates for different family sizes.
B) It multiplies the cost of an average household's rent by three.
C) It calculates the average cost of living in each of four regions of the United States and divides that number by the average cost of rent in those places.
D) Because the cost of living varies across the country,it calculates the cost of living in each region and determines a poverty line for each U.S.region.

Accepted Answer

The government determines the poverty line by calculating a strict, no-frills budget based on cost estimates for different family sizes, primarily using the cost of a minimum food diet multiplied by three, adjusted for inflation.

Question 8

Social Security accounts for about ______ of the income of the typical retiree.
A) 13 percent
B) 33 percent
C) 53 percent
D) 73 percent

Accepted Answer

Social Security benefits are the primary source of income for many retirees, accounting for about 33 percent of their total income.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of what Pierre Bourdieu refers to as cultural capital?
A) the ability to pay for cultural events and resources such as art museums,opera companies,and symphony orchestras
B) parents paying for school tutoring
C) parents reading to their children and encouraging them to do well in school
D) having an uncle who works for Goldman Sachs

Accepted Answer

Cultural capital refers to non-financial social assets that promote social mobility, such as education, intellect, style of speech, dress, or physical appearance. Parents reading to their children and encouraging them to do well in school is an example of cultural capital as it involves the transmission of knowledge and educational values.

Question 10

At the beginning of her sophomore year of high school,Janis's family cannot afford to buy her new clothes and shoes or enough supplies for school.Janis feels poor compared to her classmates who can afford these things.Janis is experiencing
A) absolute poverty.
B) relative poverty.
C) downward mobility.
D) upward mobility.

Accepted Answer

Janis is experiencing relative poverty, which refers to feeling poor in comparison to others in her community or social group, even if her basic needs are met.

Question 11

According to Peter Blau and Otis Dudley Duncan,the key factor behind occupational status is
A) ambition.
B) genetics.
C) education.
D) luck.

Accepted Answer

Peter Blau and Otis Dudley Duncan emphasized the importance of education as a key factor influencing occupational status in their research on social mobility.

Question 12

Absolute poverty means,essentially,not having enough to eat.What does relative poverty mean?
A) being worse off than one was before
B) lacking the means to improve one's situation
C) lacking access to modern amenities
D) being worse off than most people in one's society

Accepted Answer

Relative poverty refers to a condition where individuals are considered poor in comparison to the larger population within their society, meaning they have less income or resources than the average person in their community.

Question 13

Which period saw increasing rates of child poverty?
A) 1960s
B) late 1970s and 1980s
C) 1990s
D) 2010 to 2016

Accepted Answer

The late 1970s and 1980s saw increasing rates of child poverty due to economic changes, including recessions and shifts in social policies.

Question 14

Sarah believes her neighbors are poor because they have been socialized into a set of values,beliefs,and norms that result in behavior that leads to poverty.Sarah supports which of the following theories of poverty?
A) culture of poverty
B) structural poverty
C) blame the system
D) feminization of poverty

Accepted Answer

Sarah's belief aligns with the "culture of poverty" theory, which suggests that poverty arises from a set of cultural values and behaviors that are passed down through generations, leading to a cycle of poverty.

Question 15

According to William Sewell and Robert Hauser,the key factor behind occupational status is
A) educational and career aspirations.
B) genetics.
C) power.
D) luck.

Accepted Answer

Sewell and Hauser emphasized the importance of educational and career aspirations in determining occupational status, highlighting the role of individual goals and ambitions in shaping career outcomes.

Question 16

Although official estimates show that relatively few elderly people live in poverty,these statistics may be misleading because
A) they do not consider the large number of elderly people who go hungry.
B) they do not consider the large number of elderly people who are homeless.
C) they do not consider the vast gender,race,and marital status differences of older adults.
D) they do not consider the high cost of rent.

Accepted Answer

Official estimates may not fully account for the disparities in poverty rates among elderly people based on gender, race, and marital status, which can significantly affect their economic well-being.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of downward mobility?
A) Danisha,who was just hired at Wells Fargo bank
B) George,who stopped receiving welfare payments because he had reached his lifetime limit
C) Harel,who started to care for his ill parents
D) Jane,who was raised in a middle-class professional household and now works as a clerk in a grocery store full time

Accepted Answer

Downward mobility refers to a decrease in social or economic status. Jane's situation represents downward mobility as she moved from a middle-class professional background to a lower-status job as a grocery store clerk.

Question 18

What is the single biggest reason why an increasing proportion of those in poverty are women?
A) Single women are more likely to be raising small children than single men.
B) Women are facing increasing discrimination in the job market.
C) Fewer women than men have earned their high school diplomas.
D) In many cultural groups within the United States,women are discouraged from seeking employment.

Accepted Answer

Single women are more likely to be raising small children than single men, which often limits their ability to work full-time or pursue higher-paying jobs, contributing to higher poverty rates among women.

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of social mobility?
A) Jasper,who grew up in a lower-class neighborhood and became a wealthy doctor
B) Antonio,who moved from New York City to a suburb
C) Smita,who does not identify with her Brahmin caste background
D) Tia,who was raised as a man but identifies as a woman

Accepted Answer

Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups within a social hierarchy, which often involves a change in social class or economic status. Jasper's transition from a lower-class background to becoming a wealthy doctor is an example of upward social mobility.

Question 20

French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu emphasizes the importance of "cultural capital" in determining a child's later social class.Identify the example of cultural capital.
A) safe transportation to and from school
B) adequate nutrition and rest
C) social awareness and emotional support
D) having parents who help with homework

Accepted Answer

Cultural capital refers to non-financial social assets that promote social mobility. Having parents who help with homework is an example of cultural capital as it involves educational support and engagement that can influence a child's academic success and future social class.

Quiz 7: Stratification,class,and Inequality

When a person does not have adequate resources to maintain his or her health,such as enough food to eat,the person is said to be in

When sociologists examine how far an individual moves up or down the socioeconomic scale in his or her lifetime,they are studying

What is meant by the phrase feminization of poverty?

According to Pierre Bourdieu,working-class parents are just as interested in their children's education as middle- and upper-class parents,but they lack the _______ to help their children experience social mobility.

Intergenerational mobility is best described as when

Those who believe that poverty results from structural factors beyond the control of individuals would see which of the following as a source of poverty?

How does the government determine the poverty line?

Social Security accounts for about ______ of the income of the typical retiree.

Which of the following is an example of what Pierre Bourdieu refers to as cultural capital?

At the beginning of her sophomore year of high school,Janis's family cannot afford to buy her new clothes and shoes or enough supplies for school.Janis feels poor compared to her classmates who can afford these things.Janis is experiencing

According to Peter Blau and Otis Dudley Duncan,the key factor behind occupational status is

Absolute poverty means,essentially,not having enough to eat.What does relative poverty mean?

Which period saw increasing rates of child poverty?

Sarah believes her neighbors are poor because they have been socialized into a set of values,beliefs,and norms that result in behavior that leads to poverty.Sarah supports which of the following theories of poverty?

According to William Sewell and Robert Hauser,the key factor behind occupational status is

Although official estimates show that relatively few elderly people live in poverty,these statistics may be misleading because

Which of the following is an example of downward mobility?

What is the single biggest reason why an increasing proportion of those in poverty are women?

Which of the following is an example of social mobility?

French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu emphasizes the importance of "cultural capital" in determining a child's later social class.Identify the example of cultural capital.