Question 1

Marx's legacy has been obscured by
A)his inability to accurately describe capitalism.
B)a personality disorder.
C)the failure of communism.
D)the fact that he published in German (not English).

Accepted Answer

The failure of communism, which was largely based on Marx's ideas, has overshadowed his legacy and led many to discredit his theories.

Question 2

The name sociology and the corresponding academic discipline was born during the
A)American Revolution.
B)Civil War.
C)Vietnam era.
D)Industrial Revolution.

Accepted Answer

Sociology as an academic discipline emerged during the Industrial Revolution in Europe, as scholars sought to understand the social changes and challenges brought about by urbanization, industrialization, and modernization. The term "sociology" itself was coined by Auguste Comte in the mid-19th century.

Question 3

Who invented the term sociology?
A)Auguste Comte
B)Emile Durkheim
C)Max Weber
D)Karl Marx

Accepted Answer

Auguste Comte is credited with inventing the term "sociology" in 1838. He was a French philosopher who believed that sociology could be a scientific discipline, studying social phenomena in a manner similar to the natural sciences.

Question 4

"Within a few decades, a social order that had existed for centuries vanished, and a new one, familiar in its outline to us in the twentieth century, appeared." This assessment applies to which historical event?
A)European colonisation
B)the Industrial Revolution
C)the Cold War
D)the emergence of sociology

Accepted Answer

The Industrial Revolution brought about significant changes in social, economic, and technological aspects of society. It transformed the traditional means of production and initiated the rise of modern industry, urbanization, and immigration. The changes were so significant that the social order that had existed for centuries was replaced by a new one, familiar to us in the twentieth century.

Question 5

The __________ refers to a time of the most rapid colonial expansion in history.
A)Age of Reason
B)Age of Imperialism
C)Middle Ages
D)European Century

Accepted Answer

The Age of Imperialism is commonly known as the period between the late 19th century and early 20th century when European powers, particularly Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, rapidly expanded their colonies and territories around the world. This was driven by economic, political, and military motives, and led to the subjugation and exploitation of countless peoples and lands.

Question 6

The period in history known as the Age of Imperialism (1880-1914)
A)was one of the most peaceful periods in modern history.
B)represents the most rapid colonial expansion in history.
C)preceded the period in history known as the Industrial Revolution.
D)corresponds with the Cold War between the United States and the former Soviet Union.

Accepted Answer

The Age of Imperialism represents the most rapid colonial expansion in history, with European powers seizing control of territories in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. It was characterized by competition among these powers for resources and markets, leading to conflicts and tensions between them. It was not a peaceful period in history, and it preceded the Industrial Revolution by several decades. The Cold War was a later period in history that followed World War II, and was not directly related to the Age of Imperialism.

Question 7

The Industrial Revolution transformed the nature of work in which one of the following ways?
A)machine production was replaced by hand production.
B)people now could say, "I made this; this is a unique product of my labour".
C)products became standardised, and workers performed specific tasks in the production process.
D)the workers' power over the production process increased dramatically.

Accepted Answer

The Industrial Revolution brought about the rise of factories and mass production, which required standardization of products and also division of labor. This led to workers performing specific tasks repeatedly, increasing efficiency but decreasing the individual worker's control over the production process. Option A is incorrect as machine production was actually introduced during the Industrial Revolution, leading to mass production. Option B is incorrect as the focus was on making products quickly and efficiently, not on individual craftsmanship. Option D is incorrect as workers actually lost power as work became more specialized and management became more centralized.

Question 8

Sociologists do not define the cause of unemployment simply in terms of individual shortcomings because
A)profit-generating strategies include laying off employees.
B)people may decide to quit their jobs.
C)employees have the power to stay if they really want to.
D)most people are good workers.

Accepted Answer

Sociologists recognize that unemployment can be caused by larger systemic factors, such as changes in the economy or profit-driven layoffs, rather than solely by individual shortcomings such as laziness or lack of qualifications.

Question 9

In addition to the Industrial Revolution, which one of the following helps to explain the emergence of sociology as a discipline?
A)mechanisation
B)the widespread acceptance of the scientific method
C)the Age of Imperialism
D)rationalisation

Accepted Answer

The widespread acceptance of the scientific method helped to establish sociology as a discipline because it allowed for the study of social phenomena using empirical evidence and a systematic approach, similar to the natural sciences. This approach was crucial in distinguishing sociology from other fields of study and establishing it as a legitimate academic discipline.

Question 10

The addition of external sources of power from burning coals and oil to hand tools and modes of transportation is
A)standardisation.
B)affective action.
C)modernisation.
D)mechanisation.

Accepted Answer

The addition of external sources of power from burning coals and oil to hand tools and modes of transportation is mechanisation, as it involves the introduction of machines and technology to perform tasks that were once done manually.

Question 11

One fundamental feature of the Industrial Revolution is
A)craftsmanship.
B)solidarity.
C)manual labour.
D)mechanisation.

Accepted Answer

Mechanisation is the best choice as one of the fundamental features of the Industrial Revolution. This period was marked by the introduction of machines and the automation of production processes, which greatly increased efficiency and productivity.

Question 12

The sociological imagination allows a person to
A)see the connection between self and immediate relationships.
B)distinguish between mechanical and organic solidarity.
C)see that problems can be solved by changing the character of the individual.
D)make a distinction between troubles and issues.

Accepted Answer

The sociological imagination allows a person to make a distinction between troubles (personal problems) and issues (larger societal problems), which is important in understanding how individual experiences relate to larger social structures and institutions. Choices A, B, and C do not accurately represent the concept of sociological imagination.

Question 13

The Communist Manifesto is associated with
A)W.E.B.DuBois.
B)Karl Marx.
C)Emile Durkheim.
D)Max Weber.

Accepted Answer

The Communist Manifesto is a political pamphlet written by German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848. It is considered to be one of the most influential political texts in history and lays out the principles of communism.

Question 14

Which of the following explanations would someone use to explain an issue?
A)"She had the opportunity but didn't take it."
B)"He is lazy."
C)"There is a flaw or breakdown in an institutional arrangement."
D)"She didn't try very hard in school."

Accepted Answer

"There is a flaw or breakdown in an institutional arrangement."

Question 15

Which one of the following is not a characteristic of an issue?
A)an issue is a public matter.
B)an issue is caused by flaws in institutional structures.
C)the cause of an issue can be traced to personal weaknesses.
D)issues transcend the life of any one individual.

Accepted Answer

An issue is typically caused by flaws in institutional structures, but not by personal weaknesses. Personal weaknesses are more likely to be viewed as personal problems, rather than issues.

Question 16

The early sociologists spent most of their professional lives attempting to understand the consequences of which one of the following events?
A)World War I
B)World War II
C)the Industrial Revolution
D)the Enlightenment

Accepted Answer

The early sociologists, such as Auguste Comte and Emile Durkheim, were interested in understanding the consequences of the Industrial Revolution on society. They sought to understand how the rise of industrialization and urbanization was changing social structures and leading to new forms of solidarity and social organization.

Question 17

When in a nation of 50 million employees, 15 million are unemployed, that is
A)an issue.
B)a trouble.
C)a series of private troubles.
D)a result of basic character flaws.

Accepted Answer

When a significant portion of a nation's population is unemployed, it is considered an issue that needs to be addressed by policymakers and society as a whole. It can have negative impacts on the economy, social stability, and individuals' well-being. B and D are too vague and do not accurately describe the situation, while C implies that it is solely the unemployed individuals' responsibility, which is not accurate.

Question 18

The obesity rate in the United States is greater than 30 per cent.According to Mills, the key to resolving this issue involves focusing on
A)the character flaws of the 92 million plus Americans who are obese.
B)ways to increase the motivation of obese Americans.
C)understanding the underlying social forces that contributed to the current obesity rate.
D)greater awareness of nutritional guidelines

Accepted Answer

Mills suggests that in order to address the issue of obesity in the United States, it is important to understand the underlying social and cultural factors that have contributed to the current obesity rate. This suggests that the answer is not A, as it is not helpful or appropriate to blame people for their weight. B may be a component of addressing obesity, but it is not the main focus of Mills' argument. D is also important, but Mills argues that understanding social and cultural factors is essential to addressing the issue.

Question 19

The resolution of an issue involves changing
A)institutions.
B)individual character.
C)motivation level.
D)human nature.

Accepted Answer

Resolving an issue often requires changing institutions, as they are structures or mechanisms of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given community. Institutions can be reformed or adjusted to address and resolve specific issues.

Question 20

Auguste Comte defined sociology as the scientific study of the collective and cumulative results of the human intellect.The words collective and cumulative suggest that sociology involves the study of
A)people and history.
B)social and psychological forces.
C)social interactions across cultures and throughout time.
D)the mind and body.

Accepted Answer

The words "collective" and "cumulative" suggest that sociology involves studying social interactions over time and across cultures, making choice C the best option. Choice A may be partially correct, but it is too broad and does not encompass the scientific approach highlighted by Comte. Choice B is also partially correct, but it focuses more on psychological factors than on the collective and cumulative results of human intellect. Choice D is not correct because it refers to studying the mind and body, which is more relevant to fields like psychology and biology.

Quiz 1: The Sociological Imagination

Marx's legacy has been obscured by

The name sociology and the corresponding academic discipline was born during the

Who invented the term sociology?

"Within a few decades, a social order that had existed for centuries vanished, and a new one, familiar in its outline to us in the twentieth century, appeared." This assessment applies to which historical event?

The __________ refers to a time of the most rapid colonial expansion in history.

The period in history known as the Age of Imperialism (1880-1914)

The Industrial Revolution transformed the nature of work in which one of the following ways?

Sociologists do not define the cause of unemployment simply in terms of individual shortcomings because

In addition to the Industrial Revolution, which one of the following helps to explain the emergence of sociology as a discipline?

The addition of external sources of power from burning coals and oil to hand tools and modes of transportation is

One fundamental feature of the Industrial Revolution is

The sociological imagination allows a person to

The Communist Manifesto is associated with

Which of the following explanations would someone use to explain an issue?

Which one of the following is not a characteristic of an issue?

The early sociologists spent most of their professional lives attempting to understand the consequences of which one of the following events?

When in a nation of 50 million employees, 15 million are unemployed, that is

The obesity rate in the United States is greater than 30 per cent.According to Mills, the key to resolving this issue involves focusing on

The resolution of an issue involves changing

Auguste Comte defined sociology as the scientific study of the collective and cumulative results of the human intellect.The words collective and cumulative suggest that sociology involves the study of