Question 1

The all-time high birthrate in the United States was 30.1 in 1910. The birthrate has declined rather steadily since then, with an exception. When was the exception?

Accepted Answer

The birthrate exception occurred just following the Second World War. This period, known as the “baby boom,” saw a significant increase in the birthrate from 1946 to 1964.

Question 2

Which statement about the undercount in the 2010 census is accurate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement about the undercount in the...

Question 3

According to Habermas, a society that experiences social inequality will also experience

Accepted Answer

Habermas argued that social inequality leads to social conflict, as those who are disadvantaged may mobilize and struggle against the privileged group.

Question 4

According to Marx and Habermas, the personal feelings of powerlessness that accompany modernization are the result of

Accepted Answer

Marx and Habermas saw the personal feelings of powerlessness arising from modernization as a result of social inequality, particularly as a result of the growing divide between the ruling class and the working class. They believed that the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few elites left the majority of people without control over their own lives and without a sense of agency or empowerment. This led to a sense of alienation and disconnection from society, as well as to feelings of resentment and frustration.

Question 5

An example of a resource that is not renewable, regardless of how well we manage it, is

Accepted Answer

Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and animals. Once they are extracted and burned, they cannot be replaced on a human timescale. Therefore, they are considered non-renewable resources, regardless of how well we manage their use.

Question 6

Projections that the United States will have a significantly greater proportion of minorities are based on

Accepted Answer

All of the answer choices are correct because birthrates, death rates, and migration rates all significantly influence the demographic composition of a country, including the proportion of minorities.

Question 7

Demographers study

Accepted Answer

Demographers study the past and future composition of populations, examining factors such as birth and death rates, migration, and aging. They use this data to make predictions about demographic trends and inform policy decisions. While demographers may be interested in the social processes that affect population growth and change, this is not their primary focus. They also do not typically study perspectives on social change or environment and society.

Question 8

Herbert Spencer argued that social change will occur as

Accepted Answer

Herbert Spencer believed that social change will occur as societies become more heterogeneous, as diversity and specialization lead to differentiation and evolution. He argued that societies evolve from simple, undifferentiated structures to complex, differentiated structures over time. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

Question 9

The United States consumes approximately _____ percent of the world's energy but is home to only 5 percent of the world's population.

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States consumes approximately 20 percent of the world's energy while having only 5 percent of the world's population.

Question 10

Which federal document requires a national census to be conducted every ten years?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution requires a national census to be conducted every ten years, as stated in Article I, Section 2.

Question 11

_____ is the scientific study of the interdependencies that exist between humans and our physical environment.

Accepted Answer

Environmental sociology is the study of how human behavior affects the natural environment and how the physical environment affects human behavior. It examines the social and cultural factors that influence environmental attitudes and behavior, as well as the political and economic structures that shape environmental policies and practices. Population studies focus mainly on demographic variables, while ecology and eco-sociology have a broader scope that includes non-human organisms and their interactions with the environment.

Question 12

Which of these statements best describes current increases in the world's population?

Accepted Answer

The world's population increases exponentially, meaning that it is growing at an increasing rate over time. This is due to factors such as improved healthcare, increased food production, and higher birth rates in developing countries.

Question 13

In 2016, _____ exceeded the United States in the release of carbon-based emissions.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the International Energy Agency, China surpassed the United States as the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide in 2006 and has continued to exceed the US in emissions every year since then.

Question 14

Unlike Spencer, Marx emphasized that social change was based on

Accepted Answer

Marx emphasized that social change was driven by the inequalities inherent in the capitalist system, which he believed would lead to class struggle and eventually a classless society.

Question 15

According to the text, the Second World War contributed to social change in the United States in all of the following ways except when

Accepted Answer

The text states that technology improved working conditions, so this option cannot be a correct answer. A, B, and C are all mentioned as ways that the Second World War contributed to social change in the United States.

Question 16

The actual shape of an age-sex pyramid is a reflection of the

Accepted Answer

An age-sex pyramid shows the distribution of age and gender within a population. The shape of the pyramid is determined by the birthrate, as it determines the number of individuals in each age group. A high birthrate will result in a wider base (more children and young adults), whereas a low birthrate will result in a narrower base (fewer children and young adults) and larger older age groups. Therefore, the actual shape of an age-sex pyramid is a reflection of the birthrate of a society.

Question 17

The 2010 U.S. census is estimated to have undercounted approximately 2 percent of the country's population. The estimated undercount for Hispanics is as high as _____ percent.

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated undercount for Hispanics in the 2010 census is approximately 3 percent. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Question 18

According to Georg Simmel, urban dwellers tend to avoid emotional involvement, which is more characteristic of rural communities. Instead, urban interaction tends to be characterized as _____ rather than social.

Accepted Answer

According to Simmel, urban interaction is characterized as economic rather than social, indicating a more transactional nature of interactions. Simmel noted that in urban environments, individuals often interact for utilitarian purposes, such as exchanging goods or services, rather than forming emotional connections as in rural communities.

Question 19

According to recent data from the World Bank, the country with one of the lowest birthrates is _____, registering only about 8.0 births per 1000 people.

Accepted Answer

Japan has one of the lowest birthrates in the world, with only about 8.0 births per 1000 people, according to recent data from the World Bank. The other countries listed have higher birthrates: the United States has a birthrate of 11.6 per 1000 people, Niger has a birthrate of 44.4 per 1000 people, and Spain has a birthrate of 9.0 per 1000 people.

Question 20

Cohorts are useful for understanding all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Cohorts are groups of people who share a common characteristic or experience within a defined period. While they are useful for demographic studies, predicting infrastructure needs, and assessing social security sustainability, they do not directly evaluate the effectiveness of past educational practices in preparing people for the future. This would require a more detailed analysis of educational outcomes and job market demands over time.

Quiz 16: Environment, Population and Social Change