Question 1

Systems of stratification and power such as class:

Accepted Answer

Systems of stratification and power, such as class, are not intrinsic to human culture; they are socially constructed and vary across different societies and historical contexts.

Question 2

Systems of class stratify individuals' life chances and affect their possibilities for upward social:

Accepted Answer

Systems of class stratification can either limit or expand an individual's ability to move up the social ladder, known as social mobility. Options A, B, and C do not accurately describe this concept, and option D may or may not apply depending on the flexibility of the particular system in question.

Question 3

Which of the following is a pattern of relationship in which group members equally share resources and responsibilities over time based on mutual exchange?

Accepted Answer

Reciprocity is a pattern of relationship where members of a group share resources and responsibilities equally over time based on mutual exchange. This can be seen in situations where members trade goods or services with each other or take turns carrying out tasks for the group. Ranking, recidivism, redistribution, and reallocation do not involve equal sharing or mutual exchange of resources and responsibilities.

Question 4

Societies in which prestige and status are stratified but wealth is not are considered:

Accepted Answer

Societies in which prestige and status are stratified but wealth is not are considered ranked societies. In these societies, individuals are ranked based on their social status and prestige, but everyone has access to the same level of wealth and resources. The ranking is usually hereditary and determines a person's position in society, but it does not necessarily correspond to material wealth or power. Examples of ranked societies include many pastoral and horticultural societies.

Question 5

Which of the following is a system of power based on wealth, income, and status that creates an unequal distribution of a society's resources?

Accepted Answer

Class is a system of power based on wealth, income, and status that creates an unequal distribution of a society's resources. Ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and race may also contribute to inequality but are not solely based on wealth, income, and status.

Question 6

Of all the systems of stratification and power in a society, which of the following is commonly the most difficult to see clearly and to discuss openly?

Accepted Answer

Class is commonly the most difficult to see clearly and to discuss openly. In most societies, social class is not easily identifiable by outward markers and is often hidden or downplayed in social interactions. Additionally, discussions about class often challenge deeply held beliefs about meritocracy and equal opportunity, making it a sensitive and controversial topic.

Question 7

Archaeological evidence suggests that hierarchy, violence, and aggression:

Accepted Answer

Recent archaeological evidence suggests that hierarchical social structures, violence, and aggression may have emerged relatively recently in human history, rather than being central to the evolutionary success of early humans. This is a controversial and ongoing topic of research in anthropology and archaeology.

Question 8

The unequal distribution of a society's resources within a class system typically:

Accepted Answer

The unequal distribution of resources within a class system typically involves moving surpluses steadily upward into the hands of the elite. This is because the elite tend to have more power and influence, allowing them to accumulate more resources over time.

Question 9

Systems of class and inequality:

Accepted Answer

Systems of class and inequality exist in most nation-states, especially capitalist ones like the United States. They create an uneven distribution of resources, opportunities, and power, which affects individuals' life chances and status. While inequality may take different forms across cultures and historical periods, it is not a natural or inevitable feature of human social organization. Even hunter-gatherer societies exhibit varying degrees of egalitarianism and social stratification.

Question 10

Social patterns entrenched in hierarchy and stratification have emerged:

Accepted Answer

Hierarchy and stratification are considered to have emerged more recently in human history, particularly with the advent of agriculture and settled societies, compared to earlier egalitarian social patterns seen in hunter-gatherer societies.

Question 11

Countries such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are among those that have explicitly worked to narrow stratification through high taxation of wealth and which of the following efforts?

Accepted Answer

Generous social benefits are a common effort in countries such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark to narrow stratification through high taxation of wealth. This means that the government offers a range of social welfare programs, such as universal healthcare, free education, subsidized childcare, and parental leave. These benefits aim to reduce inequality and provide a safety net for all citizens, regardless of their income or social status.

Question 12

In ranked societies, the social rank of each member of the society is determined by:

Accepted Answer

In ranked societies, social status is typically determined by heredity, meaning it is passed down from generation to generation. This is often seen in monarchies or aristocratic systems where noble titles are inherited by descendants of noble families.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Each society develops its own patterns of stratification that differentiate people into groups or classes. Different societies have different criteria for stratification, such as wealth, occupation, race, gender, and others. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to understanding social stratification.

Question 14

In ranked societies, positions of high prestige such as that of a chief are largely:

Accepted Answer

In ranked societies, positions of high prestige such as that of a chief are largely hereditary, meaning they are inherited by the chief's offspring or other closely related family member. This system is commonly known as "primogeniture," where the eldest male child inherits the position. This tradition is steeped in the belief that certain families are divinely chosen to hold influential positions in society.

Question 15

Which of the following members of a ranked society do not accumulate great wealth, despite their high prestige?

Accepted Answer

In ranked societies, chiefs often hold high prestige but do not necessarily accumulate great wealth, as their role is more about redistributing resources and maintaining social order rather than personal accumulation.

Question 16

Which of the following is a type of society that is based on the sharing of resources to ensure group success with a relative absence of hierarchy and violence within or among groups?

Accepted Answer

Egalitarian societies are characterized by an absence of hierarchy and violence as resources are shared equally among members to ensure group success. The other choices- proletariat, stratified, bourgeoisie, and ranked all imply some form of hierarchy and unequal distribution of resources among members.

Question 17

Egalitarian societies depend on sharing which of the following in order to ensure group success?

Accepted Answer

Egalitarian societies are based on the principle of equal sharing of resources among community members to ensure group success. This could include sharing food, water, shelter, and other essential resources necessary for survival. Sharing resources also fosters a sense of cooperation and interdependence among community members, which strengthens the social fabric of the group. In contrast, sharing children, money, weaponry, or sexual partners does not necessarily contribute to group success in an egalitarian society.

Question 18

Categories found within a class system serve as a basis for unequal access to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Categories within a class system pertain to social stratification and determine an individual's social status, which often leads to unequal access to resources and power. Gender, race, ethnicity, and sexuality can all be factors that influence an individual's position within a class system, but status is the overarching concept that encompasses all of these categories.

Question 19

Patterns of reciprocity:

Accepted Answer

Patterns of reciprocity still exist, even in contemporary societies that base economic relations on the exchange of money for services. These patterns may take the form of gift-giving, favors, or other non-monetary forms of exchange.

Question 20

Efforts to establish more egalitarian systems of economic and social relations within highly stratified societies include which of the following communities?

Accepted Answer

The Hutterite community, which practices communal living and an equal sharing of resources, is an example of efforts to establish more egalitarian systems of economic and social relations within highly stratified societies. Capitalist, occupational, impoverished, and elite communities, on the other hand, tend to perpetuate existing forms of stratification and inequality.

Quiz 11: Class and Inequality