Question 1

The ____________ of society refers to the way society is organized.
A)structure
B)culture
C)ethos
D)sociological imagination

Accepted Answer

The term "structure" in sociology refers to the way society is organized, including its institutions, social hierarchies, and patterns of relationships between individuals and groups. Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, practices, and symbols that shape the way people understand and interact with the world around them. Ethos refers to the guiding beliefs or values of a particular society or community. Sociological imagination is a concept developed by sociologist C. Wright Mills, which involves the ability to understand the connections between individual experiences and larger social structures and historical processes.

Question 2

Society's structure is made up of
A)the people who share a culture.
B)institutions, social groups, norms, and symbols.
C)beliefs, values, norms, and symbols.
D)institutions, social groups, statuses, and roles.

Accepted Answer

The structure of society is made up of institutions (like the government or educational systems), social groups (like a family or a community), statuses (like a doctor or a student), and roles (like a mother or a teacher). While culture, beliefs, values, norms, and symbols are important parts of society, they are not the main components of its structure.

Question 3

Sociologists refer to the position a person holds in a group as his or her
A)status.
B)folkway.
C)institution.
D)role.

Accepted Answer

A person's position in a group is referred to as his or her status. Status can be defined by characteristics such as occupation, education, income, or social standing. It is an important aspect of social identity and can influence a person's behavior, expectations, and relationships with others in the group.

Question 4

Which of the following is a group, according to the definition in your text?
A)all of the people in your favorite shopping mall at noon Saturday
B)people who usually watch NBC nightly news
C)your college sociology class
D)fans of the Yankee baseball team

Accepted Answer

A group is defined as a collection of individuals who interact with each other and share a sense of identity or common goals. A college sociology class fits this definition as the members interact regularly and share the common goal of learning sociology.

Question 5

Which of the following is more likely to be found in primary rather than secondary groups?
A)task-oriented actions
B)impersonal interaction
C)intimate relationships
D)formal statuses and roles

Accepted Answer

Primary groups are characterized by close, personal, and intimate relationships, unlike secondary groups which are more impersonal and task-oriented.

Question 6

Roles
A)guide our behavior.
B)tell us what is true or false.
C)are general ideas about what is important.
D)refer to the positions within a social group.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Roles
A)guide our behavior.
B)tell us what is true...

Question 7

Which of the following illustrates part of the social structure of a society?
A)the public educational system
B)the belief in God
C)the value of education
D)the belief that abortion should be illegal

Accepted Answer

The public educational system is a formal institution that is part of the social structure, as it organizes and regulates education within a society.

Question 8

Which of the following is an ascribed status?
A)female
B)single parent
C)high school graduate
D)college professor

Accepted Answer

An ascribed status is a social position a person is born into or receives involuntarily later in life. Being female is an ascribed status because it is assigned at birth and not chosen or earned.

Question 9

Sociologists define an institution as
A)a general idea about what is important or desirable.
B)a building where people with special needs live and are cared for.
C)a collection of people who have something in common.
D)an established and enduring social pattern of social relationships.

Accepted Answer

An institution in sociology refers to established and enduring patterns of social relationships, such as family, education, religion, and government, which structure society and influence behavior.

Question 10

The objective element of a social problem
A)refers to our attitudes about the social conditions.
B)refers to the existence of a social condition.
C)is the only part that can be measured.
D)is unimportant.

Accepted Answer

The objective element of a social problem refers to the existence of a social condition.

Question 11

Modern society includes the __________ of science and technology, mass media, medicine, sports and the military.
A)social groups
B)institutions
C)statuses
D)roles

Accepted Answer

The institutions listed are science and technology, mass media, medicine, sports, and the military. Institutions are formal organizations or structures within society that serve a particular purpose or function. The other options - social groups, statuses, and roles - do not encompass all of the institutions listed.

Question 12

Which of the following illustrates a primary group?
A)a husband, wife, and child
B)your sociology class
C)the college or university you are attending
D)your hometown

Accepted Answer

A primary group is characterized by close, personal, and enduring relationships, such as those found within a family unit like a husband, wife, and child.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of a secondary group?
A)a single mother and her children
B)a group of friends who work together in a large corporation
C)a sociology class at a community college
D)the siblings in a family

Accepted Answer

A sociology class at a community college is a secondary group because it is typically larger, more impersonal, and goal-oriented, with relationships that are temporary and based on specific objectives.

Question 14

Which element of a social problem refers to the belief that a particular social condition is harmful to society?
A)objective
B)subjective
C)operational
D)theoretical

Accepted Answer

The subjective element of a social problem refers to the belief or perception that a particular social condition is harmful to society and should be addressed.

Question 15

Which type of status is assigned on the basis of some characteristic or behavior over which the individual has some control?
A)ascribed
B)elementary
C)achieved
D)rational

Accepted Answer

Achieved status is assigned on the basis of some characteristic or behavior over which the individual has some control.

Question 16

Definitions of social problems
A)are objectively created.
B)vary across societies and over time.
C)are determined only by social structure.
D)are determined only by culture.

Accepted Answer

Definitions of social problems vary across societies and over time because they are influenced by cultural norms, values, and historical contexts, rather than being objectively created or determined solely by social structure or culture.

Question 17

Which of the following best illustrates the subjective element of a social problem?
A)U.S.Census statistics that show the percentage of the United States population who live in poverty
B)reports that show the percentage of people who have lost their jobs due to the closing of factories in the United States
C)the percentage of Americans who believe availability of child pornography on the Internet is harmful to society
D)World Health Organization estimates of the number of people in the world who have died of the AIDS virus in the last five years

Accepted Answer

The subjective element of a social problem involves people's perceptions and beliefs about the issue, such as the belief that the availability of child pornography on the Internet is harmful to society.

Question 18

Edward is an African American male, age 26, who married his high school sweetheart after he graduated from college.He is now the father of two children and employed as a chemical engineer.Which of the following is one of Edward's achieved statuses?
A)African American
B)male
C)chemical engineer
D)adult

Accepted Answer

An achieved status is a social position that a person earns or chooses, such as a career. Edward's role as a chemical engineer is an achieved status.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT one of the five traditional social institutions?
A)family
B)religion
C)politics
D)prison

Accepted Answer

Prison is not considered one of the five traditional social institutions, which typically include family, religion, education, economy, and government/politics.

Question 20

A social problem is a social condition that
A)interferes with the functioning of society.
B)results in conflict among various population segments of a society.
C)a segment of society views as harmful to members of society and in need of remedy.
D)everyone in a society agrees is problematic for the society.

Accepted Answer

A social problem is typically recognized when a segment of society views a condition as harmful and believes it needs to be addressed, even if not everyone agrees.

Quiz 1: Thinking About Social Problems

The ____________ of society refers to the way society is organized.

Society's structure is made up of

Sociologists refer to the position a person holds in a group as his or her

Which of the following is a group, according to the definition in your text?

Which of the following is more likely to be found in primary rather than secondary groups?

Roles

Which of the following illustrates part of the social structure of a society?

Which of the following is an ascribed status?

Sociologists define an institution as

The objective element of a social problem

Modern society includes the __________ of science and technology, mass media, medicine, sports and the military.

Which of the following illustrates a primary group?

Which of the following is an example of a secondary group?

Which element of a social problem refers to the belief that a particular social condition is harmful to society?

Which type of status is assigned on the basis of some characteristic or behavior over which the individual has some control?

Definitions of social problems

Which of the following best illustrates the subjective element of a social problem?

Edward is an African American male, age 26, who married his high school sweetheart after he graduated from college.He is now the father of two children and employed as a chemical engineer.Which of the following is one of Edward's achieved statuses?

Which of the following is NOT one of the five traditional social institutions?

A social problem is a social condition that