Question 1

Salina bought a clothing factory,upgraded the sewing machines,and purchased higher-quality cloth to make high-fashion clothing.What would Marx say she invested in?

Accepted Answer

Marx would say that Salina invested in the means of production, which includes the physical and technological inputs necessary for production. This includes the sewing machines and higher-quality cloth that she purchased to upgrade the factory.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Weber's typology of inequality?

Accepted Answer

Employment is not a characteristic of Weber's typology of inequality. Instead, the three dimensions of inequality in Weber's typology are class, status, and party.

Question 3

Which statement best summarizes Davis and Moore's functional theory of stratification?

Accepted Answer

Davis and Moore's functional theory of stratification argues that social inequality is inevitable and operationally necessary for society because certain positions are more important and require more skill, knowledge, and abilities, thus requiring higher rewards to incentivize people to pursue them. This theory emphasizes that social stratification is important for the functioning and stability of society, and it is not based on class struggle or a denial of meritocracy. While status and prestige may be factors in social stratification, they are not the primary focus of the functional theory of stratification.

Question 4

According to the text,what is structural mobility?

Accepted Answer

Structural mobility refers to changes in the occupational structure resulting from economic changes such as the emergence of new industries, decline in old ones, advances in technology and other such factors.

Question 5

Chris,a dentist,furthered his education to become an orthodontist and has an annual take-home pay of around $250,000.What term best defines the type of status Chris has used to achieve his success?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Chris,a dentist,furthered his education to become an...

Question 6

When discussing poverty in Canada,what do most researchers use for determining the number of impoverished citizens?

Accepted Answer

Most researchers in Canada use the low-income cutoff (LICO) to determine the number of impoverished citizens. The LICO is based on the percentage of income that low-income families spend on food, shelter, and clothing. This measure takes into account the cost of basic necessities in different regions of the country and is therefore considered a more accurate reflection of poverty than other measures such as the absolute poverty definition, relative poverty comparisons, or market basket measures.

Question 7

According to the text,which term would most accurately describe India's caste structure?

Accepted Answer

The text describes the caste system in India as a closed system of stratification, which means that a person's social status is determined by their birth, and there is little to no opportunity for social mobility.

Question 8

According to the text,what is the estimated poverty line for Canadians?

Accepted Answer

The poverty line is defined as when a family spends more than 63 percent of their income on basic necessities.

Question 9

A man exchanges his labour for a wage,producing some product that the capitalist sells at a price far exceeding the wage paid.What is the Marxist term used to describe what's left over after deducting the man's wage and other expenses from the sale price of the product?

Accepted Answer

The Marxist term used to describe what's left over after deducting the man's wage and other expenses from the sale price of the product is "surplus value". This means that the capitalist makes a profit based on the difference between what they pay the worker and the value that the worker's labour adds to the product.

Question 10

The combined income of a construction labourer and his wife,a waitress,is $40,000.They have two young children.After buying food,clothes,and medicine,and paying rent,utilities,car payments,car insurance,gas,and taxes,there is little left over.They have less than 10 percent of their income remaining.According to Canada's estimated poverty line,which statement best categorizes this family?

Accepted Answer

The fact that there is very little money left over after essential expenses and that they have less than 10% of their income remaining indicates that they are likely living below the estimated poverty line. The statement about them having two young children also suggests that they may have additional expenses related to childcare, further increasing their financial strain.

Question 11

According to the text,which of the following is a statement about the current conditions of Canada's poor?

Accepted Answer

The text specifically states that "Aboriginal Canadians are among the poorest members of Canadian society" and provides statistics to support this claim. The other answer choices are not supported by the text.

Question 12

A soldier just received a field promotion.This is when an individual is given an on-the-spot promotion based on demonstrated leadership skills and occupational abilities.Which term best characterizes the type of society that would provide this type of promotion?

Accepted Answer

A meritocracy is a society in which individuals are rewarded based on their abilities and achievements, rather than social status or wealth. A field promotion based on demonstrated leadership skills and occupational abilities would be consistent with this type of society. In socialist societies, promotions are often based on seniority or political connections, rather than merit. In capitalist societies, promotions may be influenced by factors such as wealth or family connections. In a democracy, promotions are typically determined by a combination of factors, including merit, seniority, and political connections.

Question 13

Sandra,a single mother,has a job that pays an hourly wage,but has no guaranteed hours.She can earn anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 per month.She needs $1,500 to pay her rent and take care of her child.What does Sandra's situation illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Sandra's situation illustrates that poverty is not a static status. Even though she is employed, her income fluctuates, making it difficult to make ends meet consistently. This highlights that poverty is not just about being unemployed, but also about unstable and unreliable income sources.

Question 14

What prediction did Karl Marx make with his theory about social stratification in capitalist societies?

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx predicted that the exploited working class, or proletariat, would eventually become conscious of their exploitation and engage in a revolution against the bourgeoisie, leading to the establishment of a socialist society. This is known as the theory of proletarian revolution.

Question 15

Among other variables,what did both Weber and Marx believe to be a significant contributor to social stratification?

Accepted Answer

Both Weber and Marx believed that economic inequalities played a significant role in social stratification. Weber saw class as one aspect of stratification, with economic position being a key factor. Marx, on the other hand, saw class as the primary source of social inequality, with ownership of the means of production being the determining factor.

Question 16

Sarah lives on social assistance.She cannot afford to pay for her children to participate in extracurricular sports or music lessons.She worries that their chances in life will be severely limited.Which term best describes Sarah's economic situation?

Accepted Answer

Relative poverty refers to the economic situation where an individual or family may have enough income to meet basic needs but cannot afford to participate in certain activities or have the same standard of living as others in their society. In this case, Sarah's inability to pay for extracurricular activities for her children despite receiving social assistance is an example of relative poverty. Options A, B, and C are not appropriate descriptions for Sarah's economic situation.

Question 17

Why did Max Weber maintain that social stratification is multidimensional?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber believed that social stratification is multidimensional because social position is not only determined by economic factors such as wealth, but also by power and prestige. In addition, social position may be influenced by other factors such as education, occupation, and social networking. Therefore, social stratification cannot be reduced to a single dimension such as wealth or income.

Question 18

In the Catholic Church,ordained priests all start their clerical careers at the same place;however,rising through the ranks is a competitive process based upon achievement.What kind of promotional structure is in place?

Accepted Answer

The fact that rising through the ranks in the Catholic Church is a competitive process based upon achievement suggests that it is a meritocracy, where promotion is based on a person's abilities and achievements rather than things like seniority or personal connections.

Question 19

People within different cultures and societies around the world struggle every day to meet basic requirements of life in order to survive.They constantly live in a state of poverty and have little to no income.How are these terrible living conditions defined?

Accepted Answer

Absolute poverty is defined as a lack of basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. This type of poverty is characterized by extreme deprivation and a complete lack of resources required for survival. It is the most severe form of poverty and affects a large percentage of the world's population. Social degradation refers to the deterioration of social structures, which is not necessarily indicative of poverty. Unexplainable is not a valid choice as there is an explanation for the living conditions of those living in absolute poverty. Relative poverty refers to a situation where people have less income or resources than others in their society, but they still have enough to meet their basic needs.

Question 20

Whhich term would describe a world in which everyone would have an opportunity to compete for higher-status positions and those most capable would be awarded the highest ranks?

Accepted Answer

A meritocracy is a system in which individuals are rewarded based on their merit or capability, rather than their social status, wealth or background. In such a system, everyone has an equal opportunity to compete for higher-status positions and those who perform the best are awarded the highest ranks. This is different from a capitalist system, which rewards individuals based on their ownership of capital and profitability. A democracy is a system of government, while a socialist system emphasizes the collective ownership and distribution of resources.

Quiz 7: Social Stratification