Question 1

The concept ______ refers to the ways people can move within the class system.

Accepted Answer

Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups within the social class system. It can be upward or downward, and it can occur through various means such as education, occupation, inheritance, or achievement. Social movements refer to collective actions that aim to bring about social or political change. Social stratification is the hierarchical division of society into different social classes based on factors such as income, wealth, occupation, and education. Social chances is not a sociological term.

Question 2

The concept ______ is used to refer to social ranking based on wealth, occupation, or prestige.

Accepted Answer

Social stratification refers to the system of social ranking based on wealth, occupation, or prestige. Social class and social group are related concepts, but do not fully encapsulate the idea of stratification. Social chances is not a commonly used term in this context.

Question 3

Which social theorist argued that there were two social classes in society characterized by their relationship to the means of production?

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx argued that there were two social classes in society: the bourgeoisie, who owned the means of production, and the proletariat, who sold their labor to the bourgeoisie for wages. This is known as Marxist class theory.

Question 4

The social class that must sell their labor for a wage in order to survive is referred to as the ______.

Accepted Answer

The term "proletariat" refers to the social class that must sell their labor for a wage in order to survive. The capitalist class, also known as the bourgeoisie, owns and controls the means of production. The middle class refers to those who fall between the working class and the upper class and often include professionals, such as doctors and lawyers.

Question 5

The social class that owns the means of production is referred to as the ______.

Accepted Answer

The bourgeoisie is the social class that owns the means of production, including factories, machinery, and land. They are the wealthy capitalists who control the economy and exploit the working class for profit. The proletariat, on the other hand, refers to the working class who sell their labor to the bourgeoisie and do not own the means of production themselves. The middle class is a broad term that includes a range of occupations and income levels, while the term "working class" can include both manual laborers and white-collar workers.

Question 6

The mode of production characterized by the dominance of the owners of industry over the mass of industrial workers is called ______

Accepted Answer

In a capitalist mode of production, the means of production are owned by a small group of private individuals who use them to generate profit through the exploitation of wage labor. This leads to a power imbalance in which the owners of industry hold greater wealth and influence than the masses of workers who rely on those industries for their livelihoods. Feudalism, communism, and socialism all describe different forms of social organization and economic production that have historically existed, but they do not necessarily entail the same power dynamics as capitalism.

Question 7

______ is the technologically advanced, classless society of the future, in which all productive property would be held in common.

Accepted Answer

The description best fits the socialist ideal of communism, where all productive property is held in common and there is no social class division.

Question 8

What is the concept Marx used to describe the pervasive ideas that uphold the status quo and sustain the ruling class?

Accepted Answer

Marx used the concept of ideology to describe the pervasive ideas that uphold the status quo and sustain the ruling class. According to Marx, these dominant ideas are created by the ruling class to maintain their power and influence over the lower classes, and they are disseminated through various institutions such as education, media, and religion. Marx argued that these dominant ideas create false consciousness among the working class, preventing them from recognizing their own exploitation and class interests.

Question 9

It was in the work ______ that Marx most completely explained his beliefs on class including the idea that "[t]he history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles."

Accepted Answer

The Communist Manifesto is the work in which Marx most completely explained his beliefs on class, including the famous quote "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles."

Question 10

Marx believed that a new social class had been created by the capitalist mode of production. Which of the following is that class?

Accepted Answer

According to Marx, the capitalist mode of production created a class division between the bourgeoisie (the owners of the means of production) and the proletariat (the working class who sell their labor to the bourgeoisie). The urban working class, as a part of the proletariat, are the workers who sell their labor in the cities and factories that emerged during the industrial revolution. The other choices (A, C, and D) are not the class that Marx believed was created by the capitalist mode of production.

Question 11

Which of the following is not one of the preconditions for the development of a class consciousness?

Accepted Answer

The identification of a leader is not a precondition for the development of class consciousness, as class consciousness can develop through collective experiences and shared beliefs among members of a particular class. The other options listed (B, C, and D) are all preconditions for the development of class consciousness.

Question 12

Which social theorist distinguished between class and status?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber distinguished between class and status in his theories of social stratification.

Question 13

The fundamental aspects of an individual's future possibilities that are shaped by class membership are called ______.

Accepted Answer

Life chances refer to the opportunities and limitations that an individual faces based on their social class membership, including access to education, employment, healthcare, and other resources that can impact their future possibilities. Life options and goals may be influenced by class, but they are not as directly shaped by class membership as life chances. Life changes are not a term used to describe the impact of social class on an individual's future possibilities.

Question 14

According to Weber, it is a(n) ______ that shares the same economically shaped life chances.

Accepted Answer

Weber believed that social class was determined by the individual's economic situation, and that members of the same social class had similar economic life chances. While lifestyle and status may also be influenced by economic factors, they are not the main factors that determine social class according to Weber. Ideology is related to beliefs and values, but does not necessarily determine one's economic situation or social class.

Question 15

According to Weber, ______ is ranking by social prestige.

Accepted Answer

Weber's concept of status refers to a person's prestige or standing in society, which is determined by their social group, occupation, education, and other factors. Social class, on the other hand, refers to a person's economic position in society. While lifestyle and ideology can be factors in determining status, they are not the primary focus of Weber's theory of status.

Question 16

According to Weber, status groups share a(n) ______.

Accepted Answer

Weber argued that status groups are distinguished by their lifestyle, which includes the way they act, their values, and the goods they consume. This lifestyle helps to differentiate one status group from another.

Question 17

Which of the following is one of the three broad issues in the study of social class based on Marx's and Weber's work suggested in the textbook?

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, one of the three broad issues in the study of social class based on Marx's and Weber's work is the economic basis of social class. Marx believed that social class was determined by one's relationship to the means of production, while Weber believed that social class was determined by one's economic power and market position.

Question 18

Your textbook defines ______ as "groups of families or households, more or less equal in rank and differentiated from other families above or below them with regard to characteristics such as occupation, income, wealth, and prestige."

Accepted Answer

The definition provided in the question is a textbook definition of social classes. Choice A (life chances) refers to the opportunities a person has in life based on their social class, while choice B (the political elite) refers to a specific group within a social class who hold political power. Choice C (class consciousness) refers to the awareness and identification individuals have with their social class.

Question 19

In the Gilbert-Kahl model of the class structure, the group located directly beneath the capitalist class is the ______.

Accepted Answer

The Gilbert-Kahl model of the class structure places the upper-middle class directly beneath the capitalist class, reflecting individuals with high income levels, significant educational achievements, and professional or managerial occupations.

Question 20

According to the Gilbert-Kahl model of the class structure, what class derives its income largely from return on assets?

Accepted Answer

According to the Gilbert-Kahl model, the capitalist class derives its income largely from return on assets such as stocks, bonds, and other investments. The upper-upper class derives its income from inherited wealth, the upper-middle class from highly-skilled professional or managerial positions, and the middle class from salaries and wages.

Quiz 1: Social Class in America