Question 1

Which of the following best represent(s) an action?

Accepted Answer

Discrimination is the only option among the given choices that represents an action. It refers to unfair treatment, prejudice or bias towards individuals or groups based on characteristics like their race, gender, age, religion, etc. Prejudice, ethnic stereotypes, and racial stereotypes are attitudes or beliefs about certain groups, but they do not necessarily involve action or behavior.

Question 2

An attitude whereby one group sees itself as superior to other groups is called:

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own cultural or ethnic group is superior to others. It involves judging other cultures by the standards and values of one's own culture. This can lead to negative attitudes and behaviors towards other groups, such as discrimination and prejudice. Racial prejudice, assimilation, and stereotyping all involve biases based on race, culture, or ethnicity, but they do not necessarily involve a belief in superiority.

Question 3

The __________ represents a chronically-impoverished group in society and whose conditions have worsened in recent economic history.

Accepted Answer

The term "underclass" is used to describe a group of individuals who are persistently impoverished and face structural barriers to employment and social mobility. They often live in neighborhoods with high levels of poverty and experience a range of social problems. The conditions of the underclass have worsened in recent economic history, making them a chronically-impoverished group in society. The other choices do not accurately describe this group.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about the underclass is true?

Accepted Answer

Placement in the underclass is due in part to the disappearance of well-paying jobs that do not require advanced education in the United States. The other statements are not true: the underclass does not form strong bonds but rather experiences social isolation and distrust; those in the underclass are not viewed as having equal status to the rest of society; and the underclass may not reject larger cultural norms by choice but rather may be excluded from access to mainstream culture and social institutions.

Question 5

An individual's ethnic background is part of their:

Accepted Answer

An individual's ethnic background is an ascribed status because it is assigned to them at birth and cannot be changed. Achieved statuses, on the other hand, are statuses that individuals acquire through their own efforts and abilities. Role statuses refer to the positions that individuals hold in society and the expectations that come with those positions. Social structure refers to the organized patterns of relationships and institutions that shape a society.

Question 6

The belief that all Asian-Americans are naturally gifted in science, math, and technology is a(n) ___________.

Accepted Answer

This is a classic example of an ethnic stereotype, which is the belief that certain traits or behaviors are characteristic of a particular ethnic group. It is not a factual observation or a racial observation, as it is not based on any inherent qualities of race. It is also not an ethnic adaptation, as it is not a cultural practice or tradition adopted by a particular group.

Question 7

An apartment manager accepts an application for housing from a young couple who recently emigrated from Syria to the U.S. After the couple leaves the premises, the manager promptly throws their application into the trash based on the applicant's ethic background. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The apartment manager is discriminating against the young couple based on their ethnic background, which falls under racial-ethnic discrimination. It is illegal to deny housing based on a person's race, ethnicity, or national origin.

Question 8

An example of a salient characteristic is:

Accepted Answer

Skin color is a salient characteristic because it is immediately noticeable and can lead to social categorization and discrimination based on race. Eye color, social class, and ascribed status may also be salient characteristics in certain contexts, but they are not as universally noticeable or discriminated against as skin color.

Question 9

A chronically impoverished group in the U.S. whose economic status has worsened in recent years is called the ___________.

Accepted Answer

The Underclass refers to a chronically impoverished group in the U.S. who experience long-term poverty and difficulty escaping it. Their economic situation has worsened in recent years, and they often face a range of other challenges such as limited access to education, healthcare, and job opportunities. The other answer choices do not accurately describe this group.

Question 10

The idea that all Southerners are bigoted is _____________.

Accepted Answer

The statement is a stereotype, which is a generalization about a group of people that is usually based on inaccurate or incomplete information. It is not a fact and may not be true for all individuals within the group. It also does not necessarily involve discrimination, which involves treating individuals unfairly based on their membership in a particular group.

Question 11

School segregation based on race is an example of ___________.

Accepted Answer

School segregation based on race is an institutionalized form of racism, as it is a system that is intentionally designed to separate and discriminate against individuals based on their race. Dependency theory refers to a theory of economic development, class structure refers to the organization of social classes in society, and a class system refers to a social structure in which individuals are divided into different classes based on their socio-economic status. None of these accurately describe the concept of school segregation based on race.

Question 12

A _________ is a category of people who are recognized as distinct based on the basis of a social or cultural criteria such as religion or nationality.

Accepted Answer

An ethnic group is a category of people who are recognized as distinct based on the basis of a social or cultural criteria such as religion or nationality. A racial group refers to a category of people who share physical characteristics such as skin color, but not necessarily cultural or social traits.Therefore, option B is the best choice. Option C and D are incorrect because minority groups and majority groups refer to numerical representation and power relations, not necessarily social or cultural criteria.

Question 13

Which of the following responses are effective ways to discourage discrimination?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed can be effective ways to discourage discrimination. Filing complaints and bringing forward legal hearings are methods of holding individuals or organizations accountable for discriminatory behavior. Penalties or fines can serve as a deterrent for future discriminatory actions. Therefore, all three options can be useful in discouraging discrimination.

Question 14

Most sociologists who specialize in race and ethnic relations are which type of theorist?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists tend to focus on the pervasive inequality and power struggles between different racial and ethnic groups in society.

Question 15

Change in the racial caste system in the U.S. came as a result of

Accepted Answer

While all of the choices played a role in changing the racial caste system in the U.S., none of them individually could have accomplished this change alone. Supreme Court rulings such as Brown v. Board of Education paved the way for legal changes to occur, but it was the federal troops who were sent into the South to enforce these changes that made them effective. Finally, internal pressures from civil rights activists and movements such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott brought attention to the issue on a national level and helped to shift societal attitudes towards racial equality.

Question 16

________________ are groups that have historically and continue to experience the greatest systematic disadvantage in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Colonized minorities, such as indigenous peoples, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans, have suffered from longstanding systematic disadvantage in the United States. This includes economic, social, and political exclusion, as well as discrimination and violence. The other options are not accurate descriptions of historically disadvantaged groups in the US.

Question 17

According to the social learning theory of prejudice, people become prejudiced because

Accepted Answer

The social learning theory of prejudice suggests that people learn prejudice from their environment and the people around them. This includes growing up in a prejudiced family or community where being prejudiced is encouraged and rewarded, as well as being surrounded by prejudice to the point where it is unquestioned and becomes a part of one's worldview. Therefore, all three options (A, B, and C) are correct, making choice D the best answer.

Question 18

Economic motivations played a key role in the creation of systems of racial and ethnic inequality in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Economic motivations, such as the desire for labor exploitation and maintaining unequal access to resources and opportunities, were significant factors in the development and maintenance of racial and ethnic inequality in the United States.

Question 19

Discrimination is an attitude, belief or feeling that one ethnic or racial group is superior to another.

Accepted Answer

Discrimination refers to the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people based on characteristics such as race, age, sex, or ethnicity, rather than an attitude, belief, or feeling.

Question 20

Stereotypes and prejudices both work to undermine equality in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Stereotypes and prejudices are harmful and discriminatory attitudes and beliefs that can lead to inequality, discrimination, and injustice towards certain groups. They can contribute to a variety of social problems including unequal opportunities, unequal treatment, and even violence against marginalized communities. Therefore, both stereotypes and prejudices work to undermine equality and human rights in the United States.

Quiz 7: Race and Ethnic Relations