Question 1

Sociologists are using the __________method of identifying social class when they rely on a group of people from the community to rate or locate people in the class structure.

Accepted Answer

The reputational method involves asking individuals within a community to rank or classify others based on their perceptions of social class.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about economic inequality in the U.S. is true?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 3

The division of society in such a way that some people get more rewards than others is called

Accepted Answer

Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals in society, where people are ranked based on factors like wealth, power, and prestige, leading to unequal distribution of rewards.

Question 4

According to Karl Marx, the difference between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat is

Accepted Answer

According to Karl Marx, the bourgeoisie (capitalists) own the means of production, while the proletariat (workers) do not, which is the fundamental distinction between the two classes.

Question 5

According to sociologists, a primary difference between prestige and wealth is that

Accepted Answer

Prestige is subjective because it is based on societal perceptions and opinions, whereas wealth is more objective and quantifiable.

Question 6

Poverty, power and prestige are

Accepted Answer

Poverty, power, and prestige are major roots of stratification because they are the main factors that determine an individual's social status and position in society.

Question 7

Which of the following is not one of the kinds of rewards that form the basis of stratification in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Inherited social position or membership in a wealthy family is not considered a separate kind of reward forming the basis of stratification; rather, it is a factor that can influence economic rewards, power, and prestige.

Question 8

For feminists, gender inequality should be studied as part of the overall stratification system because

Accepted Answer

Feminists argue that to fully understand social stratification, it is essential to consider all members of society, including women, as they are integral to the structure and dynamics of social hierarchies.

Question 9

The Latin American feudal system where there are three classes of people landlords, tenant-workers, and administrators is called the __________system.

Accepted Answer

The hacienda system was a form of large landed estate systems that existed in Latin America, where landlords owned large estates, tenant-workers worked the land, and administrators managed the operations.

Question 10

The most common form of a master-slave stratification system in the modern world is the __________system.

Accepted Answer

Debt bondage is a modern form of slavery where individuals are forced to work to repay a debt, often under unfair conditions, making it a prevalent master-slave stratification system today.

Question 11

Which of the following recent political events would give support to the pluralist theory of how power is distributed in American society?

Accepted Answer

The opposition to the Vietnam War is an example of pluralism, as it involved diverse groups and individuals influencing government policy through protests and activism.

Question 12

The ability to get people to do things they otherwise would not do is the definition of

Accepted Answer

Power is defined as the ability to influence or control the behavior of people, making them do things they might not otherwise do.

Question 13

Marxist sociologists believe that__________ hold power in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Marxist sociologists argue that the owners of corporations, or the capitalist class, hold power in capitalist societies like the United States due to their control over economic resources and means of production.

Question 14

Gender, ethnic, and age stratification have one thing in common. They are all

Accepted Answer

Ascribed statuses are social positions assigned at birth or involuntarily later in life, such as gender, ethnicity, and age.

Question 15

Which of the following is an ascribed status that can lead to status inconsistency?

Accepted Answer

Gender is an ascribed status, meaning it is assigned at birth and not chosen. It can lead to status inconsistency when societal expectations or roles associated with gender conflict with other achieved statuses, such as occupation or education.

Question 16

Joseph is automatically rated as a member of the middle class because he has a masterʹs degree. This way of assigning people to social classes, based on years of education and occupation, is called the__________method.

Accepted Answer

The objective method classifies individuals into social classes based on measurable criteria such as education, income, and occupation.

Question 17

A stratification system where there is little opportunity to accumulate wealth and where there is much social equality is called an)__________ system.

Accepted Answer

An egalitarian system is characterized by equal access to resources and opportunities, minimizing wealth accumulation and promoting social equality.

Question 18

Social stratification is a profoundly important subject in sociology because

Accepted Answer

Social stratification affects various aspects of life, including family size, income, education, and opportunities, making it a crucial area of study in sociology.

Question 19

Which of the following stratification systems is the most rigid or fixed?

Accepted Answer

The caste system is the most rigid stratification system, as it is based on hereditary status and does not allow for movement between different social levels.

Question 20

A __________is a category of people who have about the same amount of income, power, and prestige.

Accepted Answer

A social class is defined as a category of people who have similar levels of income, power, and prestige.

Quiz 7: Social Stratification